Hyderabad: Former Telangana Director General of Police Anjani Kumar, a highly decorated 1990-batch IPS officer, has been honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award for his distinguished contribution to policing and public service.
The award was presented by Uttarakhand Governor Lieutenant General Gurmeet Singh at a function in Dehradun, recognising Anjani Kumar’s long career across state policing, central deputation and international peacekeeping.
Anjani Kumar was among three senior civil and police service officers honoured on the occasion. Sameer Sinha, an IFS officer from Uttarakhand, and Meenakshi Negi, an IFS officer from Karnataka, were the other recipients.
For Anjani Kumar, the honour comes after a career spanning more than three decades, during which he handled some of the most demanding assignments in policing, including urban policing in Hyderabad, anti-extremism operations, intelligence and counter-insurgency responsibilities, central deputation and a United Nations peacekeeping mission in Bosnia.
Who Is Anjani Kumar?
Anjani Kumar is a retired 1990-batch Indian Police Service officer of the erstwhile Andhra Pradesh cadre and later Telangana cadre. He served as the Director General of Police of Telangana and held several other senior positions during his career.
With extensive experience in internal security, counter-insurgency, urban policing, administration and anti-extremism operations, Kumar emerged as one of the prominent police officers of his generation.
His career also had a significant international dimension, with his service in the United Nations International Police Task Force in Bosnia and Herzegovina during 1998-99.
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He was subsequently decorated with the United Nations Peace Medal twice for his peacekeeping service.
Early Life and Education
Anjani Kumar was born on 28 January 1966 in Patna, Bihar.
He studied at St. Xavier’s High School in Patna before moving to Delhi for higher education. He completed his graduation from Kirori Mal College, University of Delhi.
He cleared the Civil Services Examination and joined the IPS in 1990, at the age of 24.
During his training at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy (SVPNPA), Kumar distinguished himself in sporting and physical activities. He won the Maharaja of Tonk Cup for Best Horse Rider and the RD Singh Cup for Best Swimmer of his batch.
These achievements during training were an early indication of the physical discipline that would become an important part of his policing career.
Beginning of IPS Career in Undivided Andhra Pradesh
Kumar began his career in the undivided Andhra Pradesh cadre, starting as an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) in Jangaon, in the erstwhile Warangal district.
His early career involved a series of operational assignments across different parts of the state. He subsequently served in policing roles covering districts including Mahbubnagar, Nizamabad, Guntur and Prakasam.
He later served as Superintendent of Police of Guntur and Prakasam districts, gaining extensive field experience before moving into senior supervisory positions.
His career gradually expanded from district policing to specialised policing, intelligence, anti-extremism operations and senior administrative responsibilities.
United Nations Peacekeeping Mission in Bosnia
One of the most notable chapters of Anjani Kumar’s career came when he was deputed to the United Nations International Police Task Force (IPTF) during the UN Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1998-99.
The international assignment exposed him to complex post-conflict policing and peacekeeping responsibilities in a challenging environment.
His performance during the mission earned him the United Nations Peace Medal twice, adding an international distinction to his policing record.
The Bosnia assignment remains one of the defining aspects of Kumar’s career, particularly because it combined policing experience with international peacekeeping and conflict-management responsibilities.
Key Senior Policing Assignments
After his early field postings and international assignment, Kumar went on to hold several senior positions in the Andhra Pradesh Police.
He served as DIG of the Nizamabad and Guntur ranges and also held responsibilities in specialised investigative and intelligence-related policing.
He served as DIG of the Crime Investigation Cell, where his responsibilities involved specialised crime investigation and intelligence-related functions.
Kumar later became associated with the Greyhounds, the elite anti-Naxal commando force of the state.
Leading the Greyhounds
His tenure as IG of Greyhounds was particularly significant given the force’s specialised role in countering Left-Wing Extremism.
Greyhounds has traditionally been regarded as one of India’s specialised counter-insurgency forces, particularly for operations against Maoist and Naxal groups.
Kumar’s experience in this area strengthened his credentials in counter-insurgency, internal security and anti-extremism operations, areas that remained central to his career.
Central Deputation With CISF
Kumar also served on central deputation with the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF).
The assignment provided him with experience beyond state policing and added to his exposure to central security responsibilities.
His career therefore covered three distinct spheres—state policing, central security assignments and international peacekeeping.
Commissioner of Police, Hyderabad
One of the most prominent assignments of Anjani Kumar’s career was his tenure as Commissioner of Police, Hyderabad.
He headed the Hyderabad City Police from March 2018 to December 2021, leading the force for nearly four years.
During his tenure, he was associated with efforts to strengthen urban policing, public safety and community-oriented policing initiatives in Hyderabad.
The assignment came with the challenges of policing one of India’s major metropolitan cities, where law enforcement responsibilities range from conventional crime control to traffic management, public order, technology-driven policing and community engagement.
His tenure as Hyderabad Police Commissioner significantly raised his profile as a senior urban-policing administrator.
From Anti-Corruption Bureau to Telangana DGP
After serving as Hyderabad Police Commissioner, Kumar subsequently headed the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB).
The ACB assignment brought him into another specialised area of law enforcement, involving the prevention and investigation of corruption-related offences.
He later rose to the highest policing position in the state.
Anjani Kumar took charge as the Director General of Police of Telangana on 31 December 2022, succeeding M. Mahendra Reddy.
As DGP, he was responsible for the overall functioning of the Telangana Police and its response to crime, public order, internal security and policing challenges across the state.
Final Assignment and Retirement
Following his tenure as Telangana DGP, Kumar went on to serve as Director General of Prisons & Correctional Services.
He subsequently retired from active service in early 2026, bringing to a close a career that had spanned more than three decades.
By the time of his retirement, he had served in a wide range of assignments covering district policing, specialised forces, intelligence, anti-extremism operations, urban policing, anti-corruption, central deputation, prison administration and international peacekeeping.
ECI Controversy During Telangana Assembly Elections
Kumar’s career also included an episode involving the Election Commission of India (ECI) during the Telangana Assembly elections in December 2023.
During the counting process, he briefly faced suspension after meeting a political leader while votes were still being counted, in an episode linked to the Model Code of Conduct.
Kumar subsequently tendered an unconditional apology. The Election Commission accepted his explanation, revoked the suspension and let him off with a warning.
The episode became one of the few controversies associated with his otherwise long policing career.
A Highly Decorated Police Career
Anjani Kumar’s service has been recognised with several national and international awards.
His major honours include:
- United Nations Peace Medal – twice, for his service during the UN peacekeeping mission in Bosnia.
- Indian Police Medal for Meritorious Service.
- President’s Police Medal for Distinguished Service.
- Antrik Suraksha Medal, recognising his contribution to internal security and anti-extremism operations.
- Lifetime Achievement Award – 2026, recognising his distinguished contribution to policing and public service.
The combination of the United Nations awards and India’s major police medals reflects the breadth of his career—from international peacekeeping to domestic counter-insurgency, urban policing and senior police administration.
Anjani Kumar’s Career at a Glance
- 1990: Joined the Indian Police Service as a 1990-batch IPS officer.
- Early Career: Served as ASP, Jangaon in the erstwhile Warangal district and held operational postings in Mahbubnagar, Nizamabad, Guntur and Prakasam.
- District Policing: Served as SP of Guntur and Prakasam districts.
- Senior Policing: Served as DIG of Nizamabad and Guntur ranges and DIG, Crime Investigation Cell.
- Counter-Insurgency: Served as IG, Greyhounds, the elite anti-Naxal force.
- 1998–99: Served with the UN International Police Task Force in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
- Central Deputation: Served with the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF).
- March 2018–December 2021: Served as Commissioner of Police, Hyderabad.
- Post-Hyderabad: Headed the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) of Telangana.
- 31 December 2022: Took charge as Director General of Police (DGP), Telangana.
- Later Assignment: Served as Director General of Prisons & Correctional Services.
- Early 2026: Retired from active service after a career spanning more than three decades.
- 2026: Received the Lifetime Achievement Award for his distinguished contribution to policing and public service.
A Career Spanning State, Central and International Policing
What distinguishes Anjani Kumar’s career is the variety of policing environments in which he served.
He began with ground-level district policing, moved into senior administrative and specialised positions, commanded an elite anti-Naxal force, served in the CISF, represented India in a UN peacekeeping mission, led the Hyderabad City Police, headed the Anti-Corruption Bureau and ultimately became the Telangana DGP.
His career therefore brought together field policing, counter-insurgency, internal security, urban policing, anti-corruption work, central security and international peacekeeping.
The Lifetime Achievement Award presented in Dehradun recognises this long and varied contribution to public service and policing, coming soon after his retirement from a career that lasted more than three decades.
Personal Life: Anjani Kumar is married to Vasundhara Sinha, a senior official of the Indian Revenue Service (IRS). The couple has two sons.
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