Mr. Arup Patnaik, a 1979-batch IPS officer of the Maharashtra cadre, rose to become the Police Commissioner of Mumbai. He could be called the Original Singham, as several Bollywood blockbusters have been inspired by his life and work. Although he was not successful in his first attempt to reach the Lok Sabha from Bhubaneshwar in 2019, he is again in the fray, this time from Puri. Let’s take a look at his administrative and political journey.
Arup Patnaik was the first Odia to become Police Commissioner of Mumbai. He broke the backbone of organized criminals in the Maximum City during his tenure as DCP from 1991 to 1994. He neutralized numerous sharpshooters from mafia gangs like Dawood Ibrahim, Chhota Rajan, and Arun Gawli. Patnaik also investigated the 1993 Mumbai serial bomb blasts, seizing 1,500 kg of RDX from Mumbra port meant to be used in the bombings.
Patnaik unraveled the Harshad Mehta scam after being sent on deputation to the CBI in 1994. He was finally elevated to Mumbai Police Commissioner in 2011. Nicknamed “Bar Buster,” he cracked down on illegal bars, particularly those with alleged underworld connections. During his tenure as Mumbai Police chief, a serial bomb blast in July 2011 killed 26 people. Arup was lauded by his colleagues for his “fast decision-making ability on police reforms.”
From his early days as a probationary Assistant Superintendent of Police in Nasik to his subsequent postings as the Superintendent of Police in Latur, Nagpur, and Jalgaon, Patnaik’s commitment to upholding the law and ensuring the safety of citizens was unwavering. His fearless stance against political heavyweights and his determination to maintain law and order became the stuff of legend.
He received the President’s Police Medal for Distinguished Service in 2003 and the Indian Police Medal for Meritorious Service in 1994.
His numerous forays against gangsters have been etched on celluloid. In the 2004 action movie Aan: Men at Work, Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar portrayed DCP “Hari Om Patnaik,” a combination of his father’s first name (Rajiv Hari Om Bhatia) and Patnaik’s surname. Hussain Zaidi’s 2002 book Black Friday detailed the 1993 Mumbai bombings, an attack comprising 13 explosions that killed 250 people. Zaidi dedicated an entire chapter to Patnaik and his handling of the situation. The book was adapted into a film by Anurag Kashyap in 2007, with actor Sharad Ponkshe playing Arup Patnaik.
For Patnaik, the journey to politics was much easier than tackling gangsters. After retirement, he returned to his home state of Odisha and joined the Biju Janata Dal, which has been in power there since 1999. In April 2018, he was personally inducted into the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) by the Chief Minister of Odisha, Naveen Patnaik. In the 2019 Indian general election, Patnaik lost by only 21,000 votes to the formidable Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate, Aparajita Sarangi, a former IAS officer herself.
Undeterred, Patnaik continued to rise through the ranks of the BJD. He was appointed the convener of the party’s social service wing, ‘Odisha Mo Parivar,’ in October 2019. He spearheaded numerous initiatives aimed at improving the lives of the underprivileged and marginalized. He was also appointed the head of Biju Yuva Vahini in 2018, with a Cabinet Minister’s rank.
Patnaik’s dedication to public service extended far beyond the confines of his official duties. As the founder and Managing Trustee of the Konark Cancer Foundation, he supports cancer patients and their families, ensuring access to essential medical treatment, shelter, and emotional support.
He has again been fielded as BJD’s Lok Sabha candidate, this time from the adjoining constituency of Puri. Here, he is locked in a high-stakes contest against BJP’s national spokesman, Dr. Sambit Patra, who also lost in 2019 by a mere 11,000 votes from Puri. It’s thus a battle for redemption between a former supercop and a former medico.
In the annals of modern India, few individuals have left an indelible mark that transcends the boundaries of their professions. Arup Patnaik stands as one of them, a trailblazer. His journey has seamlessly transitioned from the hallowed corridors of bureaucracy to the tumultuous arena of politics. His life is a tapestry woven with threads of unwavering integrity, fearlessness, and an uncompromising commitment to public service. These are the qualities that have defined his every step, inspiring awe and admiration in equal measure.
