Chennai: In a significant administrative reshuffle, the Government of Tamil Nadu has appointed Asra Garg as Inspector General of Police (IGP), Intelligence, Chennai.
A senior 2004-batch IPS officer of the Tamil Nadu cadre, Asra Garg was serving as IGP, North Zone, Chennai, before being moved to head the state’s Intelligence Wing. He replaces Avinash Kumar, who has not been assigned a new posting.
The Intelligence post is considered one of the most sensitive and strategically important assignments in the Tamil Nadu Police, particularly in the politically significant post-election period.
Known for High-Profile Investigations and Proactive Policing
Asra Garg is widely respected for his integrity, field-oriented leadership and strong action against organized crime, caste discrimination and financial exploitation.
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In October 2025, the Madras High Court appointed him to lead a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the Karur stampede, in which 41 people lost their lives during a rally addressed by Vijay. Although the SIT functioned for only 10 days, the Supreme Court of India later stayed its formation and transferred the investigation to the CBI.
During his tenure as IGP, North Zone, he supervised major crackdowns on interstate synthetic drug networks operating through digital platforms. In one major operation, police in Tiruvallur arrested multiple suspects, including foreign nationals.
His leadership also saw the country’s first protection order under the amended Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Harassment of Women Act in favour of a POCSO victim in Villupuram.
Career Highlights: From Punjab to Tamil Nadu’s Intelligence Chief
Born in Patiala, Mr Garg completed his schooling in Mansa and earned a Bachelor of Engineering in Electrical Engineering from Thapar University (now Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology).
He joined the IPS on September 6, 2004, as a direct recruit through the UPSC Civil Services Examination.
Key assignments in his career include:
- Assistant Superintendent of Police, Tirupattur, Vellore district
- Superintendent of Police in Tirunelveli, Madurai and Dharmapuri
- Inspector General of Police, South Zone, Madurai
- Inspector General of Police, North Zone, Chennai
- Central deputation to the Central Bureau of Investigation (2016–2022)
Distinguished Work Against Usury, Caste Tensions and Crime
As Superintendent of Police in Tirunelveli, Asra Garg launched an intensive campaign against “kandhuvatti” (illegal usury), protecting economically vulnerable families from exploitative lenders.
In Uthapuram, he played a key role in easing long-standing tensions between Dalit and non-Dalit communities. His efforts were formally acknowledged by the Madras High Court.
He is also known for directing police stations to prominently display contact numbers of senior officers so citizens can directly reach the leadership when in distress.
Integrity on Central Deputation
During his tenure with the CBI, Asra Garg came into the spotlight after reportedly exposing a ₹2 crore bribery attempt by an official seeking to influence a corporate investigation. The incident further strengthened his reputation for uncompromising integrity.
Fluent in Tamil, Respected Across the State
Though his native language is Punjabi, Asra Garg became highly proficient in Tamil and is widely appreciated for his ability to connect with local communities and address social issues with sensitivity and firmness.
His appointment as IGP, Intelligence is expected to strengthen Tamil Nadu’s intelligence gathering, law-and-order assessment and strategic policing capabilities.
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