Meet Deven Bharti, the new Police commissioner of Mumbai, super cop who investigated 26/11 attacks and These cases
Maharashtra: Senior IPS officer Deven Bharti has been appointed the new commissioner of Mumbai police, officials said on Wednesday. Bharti will take charge as the city’s top cop later in the evening from incumbent Vivek Phansalkar, who is retiring after serving the force for 35 years. While the state home department issued an order concerning Bharti’s appointment, it has downgraded the post to the rank of Additional Director General of Police (ADGP).
The appointment of Deven Bharti as Mumbai’s new Police Commissioner may seem like a routine bureaucratic shift. But for those who follow the city’s policing closely, his return to the top job marks a significant moment. An IPS officer of the 1994 batch, Bharti brings with him decades of on-ground experience and institutional knowledge that few others in the force can claim.
His predecessor, Vivek Phansalkar retired on April 30, passing the baton to Bharti at a time when India’s financial capital, Mumbai, continues to grapple with a range of modern policing challenges from cybercrime to terror threats. As Bharti returns to the front-lines, there is greater responsibility awaiting him.
Scholar by Training, Officer by Calling
A native of Darbhanga, Bihar, Bharti’s early life was far from the complexities of metropolitan law enforcement. But his academic path led him to the Delhi School of Economics, giving him a strong grounding in strategy, policy, and social systems. This mix of book-smart sensibility and field-tested grit would go on to define his policing style.
From Crime Branch to Anti-Terror Operations
Bharti’s career is closely intertwined with Mumbai’s modern policing history. As Additional Commissioner of Police (Crime Branch), he led major investigations and helped modernise the department’s functioning. Later, as Joint Commissioner (Law and Order), he was responsible for maintaining peace across one of the most diverse and densely populated cities in the world , Mumbai, a post he held longer than any of his predecessors.
One of his most significant contributions came as head of Maharashtra’s Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS). His involvement in probing the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks placed him at the center of India’s counter-terrorism response.
A Career Marked by Recognition and Resistance
Bharti’s rise hasn’t always been smooth. During the rule of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government, he was transferred to the Maharashtra State Security Corporation, a move widely seen as politically motivated. Though he stayed away from public commentary, many within the force viewed it as a sidelining of one of Mumbai’s most capable officers.
He was also linked to a case involving the alleged non-registration of an FIR related to a political leader’s spouse. However, investigations did not find enough evidence against him, and he was not named in the final charge sheet .
Despite these roadblocks, Bharti remained a trusted name in policing. In January 2023, the government under Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis created a new position: Special Commissioner of Police (Mumbai), appointing Bharti to it. The move was met with political resistance, but also quietly acknowledged his indispensability.
What His Appointment Means for Mumbai
Deven Bharti steps into the role of Commissioner at a time when Mumbai’s policing needs are evolving rapidly. While traditional crime remains a concern, so do digital fraud, communal tensions, and public safety in an era of misinformation. With his blend of administrative experience and field exposure, Bharti is expected to focus on tech-enabled policing, intelligence coordination, and rapid-response systems.
His appointment is not just a return to the frontlines, it signals a strategic reinforcement of Mumbai Police’s leadership. Mumbai, a city that rarely pauses, demands a great deal of stability and foresight from Deven Bharti’s leadership.
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