The Maharashtra government, has appointed senior IPS officer Deven Bharti as the new Commissioner of Mumbai Police. Bharti will take charge from Vivek Phansalkar, who officially retires on April 30, concluding his tenure as the city’s top cop.
A 1994 batch IPS officer of Bihar cadre origin, Bharti brings with him a decorated and complex legacy. Known for his sharp operational instincts and deep-rooted knowledge of Mumbai’s criminal landscape, he played a central role in investigating the deadly 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks — a credential that cemented his reputation as a fearless, result-driven officer.
#BREAKING | Deven Bharti to be the next Mumbai Police Commissioner, taking charge after Vivek Phansalkar’s retirement today.
Bharti, a seasoned IPS officer, played a key role in major investigations, including the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, earning a reputation for his sharp… pic.twitter.com/hgznfdhuh0
— Organiser Weekly (@eOrganiser) April 30, 2025
Bharti’s appointment marks a comeback to the top echelons of Mumbai Police after a politically turbulent phase. Considered a close aide of Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Bharti was previously sidelined during the Uddhav Thackeray-led MVA regime and assigned to the Maharashtra State Security Corporation (MSSC). His reemergence as Commissioner signals a reassertion of the Mahayuti government’s confidence in his leadership and loyalty.
In 2023, the BJP-Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) government created the post of Special Commissioner of Police — a first in Mumbai’s policing history — and appointed Bharti to the role, defying sharp opposition criticism. His elevation to Commissioner now seems a calculated continuation of the Mahayuti’s policing strategy.
Deven Bharti is one of the longest-serving Joint Commissioners of Police (Law and Order) Mumbai has seen. During his tenure under the earlier Fadnavis administration, he supervised over 90 police stations in India’s financial capital. His assignments have included stints as Additional Commissioner of Police (Crime Branch) and as the chief of the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS).
A senior officer once said, “He knows the city and its underworld like the back of his hand. His network is unmatched.” However, this proximity to the underworld ecosystem has also raised questions.
Born in Darbhanga, Bihar, Bharti completed his early education in Jharkhand before earning a degree from the prestigious Delhi School of Economics. Known to be intensely private yet politically aware, his career trajectory has often mirrored the shifts in Maharashtra’s volatile political terrain.
As Commissioner, Bharti inherits the daunting task of managing law and order in a city constantly under the lens of national security, economic activity, and communal tensions. With his extensive field experience and proximity to the political establishment, his tenure is expected to be assertive — if not transformative.
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