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HYDERABAD, Nov 13 (Najaf Ali Shoukat-PMI) Dr. Mahesh Muralidhar Bhagwat, IPS, the newly appointed Commissioner of Police, Hyderabad, is widely recognised for his distinguished policing career, relentless campaign against human trafficking, and commitment to mentoring civil services aspirants. A 1995-batch IPS officer of the Telangana cadre, Bhagwat has earned national and international recognition for rescuing thousands of women and children from exploitation, combating bonded labour and guiding hundreds of successful UPSC candidates towards prestigious public services.
- Dr. Mahesh Muralidhar Bhagwat, a 1995-batch IPS officer of the Telangana cadre, has taken charge as the Commissioner of Police, Hyderabad.
- He previously served as Director General of Police, Law and Order, Telangana, from July 10, 2024, and also held additional responsibilities.
- As the first Commissioner of Police of Rachakonda, he served for six and a half years, establishing a strong focus on community policing and crime prevention.
- His outstanding contribution to combating human trafficking helped rescue more than 2,000 women and children between 2004 and 2022 from organised trafficking networks.
- He played a leading role in shutting down approximately 200 brothels and commercial exploitation centres through coordinated action with executive magistrates.
- His recent anti-trafficking initiatives also resulted in the rescue of around 7,000 child labourers and bonded labourers from brick kilns and other hazardous industries.
- In recognition of his exceptional contribution to combating human trafficking, he received the prestigious 2017 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report Hero Award from the US Department of State.
- He has received several national and international honours, including three President’s Police Medals for Gallantry, Meritorious Service and Distinguished Service.
- Beyond policing, he has mentored more than 2,000 civil services aspirants over the past decade, helping candidates secure positions in IAS, IPS, IFS and other prestigious services.
- His mentoring record includes UPSC toppers and high-ranking candidates, including AIR 1 Ishita Kishore, AIR 3 Donuru Ananya Reddy, AIR 2 Harshita Goyal, and several successful candidates in the 2026 results.
PROFILE OF Dr MAHESH MURALIDHAR BHAGWAT IPS
The incumbent Hyderabad Commissioner of Police, Dr.Mahesh Muralidhar Bhagwat, is 1995 batch Indian Police Service officer of Telangana cadre worked as Director General, Law and Order since 10th July, 2024 (And also HFAC of DG, Legal and MD, TGPICS). Before that, he was Addl. DGP, CID, Railway & Road Safety and the first Commissioner of Police, Rachakonda Commissionerate, Hyderabad, for 6.5 years.
Educational qualification
4th to SSC – ZP School, Pathardi, then Sri Tilok Jain Vidyalaya, Pathardi, Dist. Ahmednagar, Maharashtra.
HSC, SP College, Pune
B.E. in Civil Engineering from COEP, Pune, 1990
LLB, Osmania University, Hyderabad, 2015
2025, Honoris Causa (Honorary Doctorate) from D Y Patil Vidyapeeth, Pimpri, Pune, for exemplary work in anti-trafficking and mentoring UPSC aspirants beyond the call of duty
MEDALS
1. President’s Police Medal for Gallantry, 2004
2. President’s Police Medal for Meritorious Service, 2011
3. President’s Police Medal for Distinguished Service, 2022
4. Police Special Duty Medal of Manipur
5. Police Internal Security Medal for Andhra Pradesh
6. Union Home Minister Commendation Disc from Home Minister Rajnath Singh in December 2016 for Greyhounds training center
AWARDS
1. Community Policing Award and Homeland Security Special Honour in 2004 from International Association of Chiefs of Police, USA for community Policing project Police Meekosam (Police for you) of Naxal-affected Adilabad district Police awarded at the IACP conference in Los Angeles
2. 2006 Weber Savvy Law Enforcement Award and Civil Rights Award of the International Association of Chiefs of Police, USA for the anti-trafficking project ‘Aasara’ of Nalgonda District focused on rescue of trafficking victims from traditional caste-based prostitution and their rehabilitation, awarded at the IACP conference in Boston
3. 2017 Trafficking in Persons Report Hero award of the US Department of State, announced on 27th June 2017 in Washington, DC, in the presence of Evanka Trump. 1st Marathi IPS officer and 3rd Indian to get this recognition from the US Government.
4. 2017 Recognition as the most influential leader in the top 100 working for anti-trafficking from Canada-based Ascent.
5. 2018 Civil and Human Rights Award in the individual category from IACP, USA, for work site school project started for Odisha State child labour rescued from Brick Kilns, awarded at the Miami, Florida conference.6. 2022 Smart Policing Award of FICCI for the Worksite school project.
WORK EXPERIENCE
Worked as Police Chief in Districts and Commissionerate of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, focusing on anti-naxal operations, white-collar crime control, organized drug offenders’ arrest, anti trafficking rescue operations, prevention of victims from joining sex trafficking networks, protection of rescued victims, and prosecution of traffickers within the state, country, and abroad. Did exemplary work in curbing sex trafficking as well as forced labour trafficking while leading from the front.
Rescued more than 2000 women and children from 2004 to 2022 from organised trafficking networks. Closed down 200 brothels or places of commercial exploitation with the help of Executive Magistrates.
Recently rescued 7000 child labourers and bonded labourers from Brick kilns and other hazardous Industries.
PUBLICATIONS
Contribution to 8 books on trafficking published by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime & Ministry of Home Affairs, India.
One book, Synergy between stakeholders, is resource material for the anti-trafficking certificate diploma course of Indira Gandhi National University, Delhi.
RESOURCE PERSON/TRAINING
Acting as a resource person for various community policing and anti-trafficking training programs for Law enforcement agencies and other stakeholders in National Police Training Academy, Hyderabad, and other states
Attended United Nations Anti-Trafficking Conference (UN GIFT) in Vienna, Austria, 2007
Attended a 2-week training in 2004 on India interdicting terrorism subject at Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
Delivered a talk on Human Trafficking and community policing at UMSL, St. Louis, USA in 2018
Mentor for Civil services interview preparation. More than 2000 Civil Services IAS, IPS, Foreign Services etc/IFS FOREST/CAPF AC aspirants got into services in the last 10 years. AIR 1 Ishita Kishor, IAS, of the 2023 batch; AIR 3 Donoru Ananya Reddy, IAS, of the 2024 batch; AIR 2 Harshita Goyal and 220 ranks of the 2025 UPSC Civil Services result, in the 2026 result, ranks 3, 4, 6, 7 and total 320 of 960 selected in country are mentored by Dr.Mahesh Muralidhar Bhagwat and his team for Civil Services interview/PT. (pressmediaofindia.com)
