In a recent reshuffle in Maharashtra’s police leadership, senior IPS officer Deven Bharti has been appointed as the new Commissioner of Police, Mumbai, following the retirement of IPS Vivek Phansalkar on April 30.
A 1994-batch officer of the Indian Police Service, Bharti currently holds the rank of ADG and has been serving as the Special Commissioner of Mumbai Police. His appointment to the top post comes ahead of his scheduled promotion to the DG rank in August 2025 and his retirement in 2028.
In a departure from established convention, the Maharashtra government has downgraded the Mumbai Police Commissioner’s post—traditionally held by a DG-rank officer for over 15 years—to accommodate Bharti’s elevation.
Hailing from Darbhanga, Bihar, Bharti holds a master’s degree from the prestigious Delhi School of Economics and completed his schooling in Jharkhand. His decorated career spans crucial roles within the Mumbai Police, including stints as Deputy Commissioner of Police Zone 7 and DCP Crime Branch. He has also served as Additional Commissioner and Joint Commissioner (Law & Order), further solidifying his command over the city’s law enforcement landscape.
At the state level, Bharti has held key positions such as Inspector General (Law & Order) and head of the Anti-Terrorism Squad, equipping him with wide-ranging expertise in tackling organized crime and terrorism.
