Bengaluru: M Chandra Sekhar is a 1998-batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer of the Karnataka cadre, who has held several important policing assignments in Karnataka and Himachal Pradesh.
He is currently serving as Additional Director General of Police (ADGP), Internal Security Division, Karnataka, in Bengaluru.
Sekhar has also served as Commissioner of Police in Mangaluru and Belagavi and as Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) in Bengaluru during his career.
M Chandra Sekhar: Education and Early Career
According to available profiles, Sekhar was born in 1974 and hails from Nellore, Andhra Pradesh. He completed his B.Tech in Aerospace Engineering from IIT Kharagpur before entering public service.
Before joining the IPS, he reportedly worked as a software engineer with Infosys between 1995 and 1996.
He joined the Indian Police Service on December 28, 1998, as a direct recruit through the UPSC Civil Services Examination.
Began Career in Himachal Pradesh
Sekhar’s early policing career was in Himachal Pradesh, where he served as an Assistant Superintendent of Police in Shimla.
He subsequently held Superintendent of Police assignments in Bilaspur and Mandi districts.
He later returned to Karnataka on deputation in 2009, where he went on to occupy several important policing positions.
Major Postings in Karnataka
During his Karnataka tenure, Sekhar served as Commissioner of Police, Mangaluru, where he handled several law-and-order and crime-related challenges.
He was subsequently appointed Commissioner of Police, Belagavi, in April 2018.
He has also served as Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime), Bengaluru, handling investigations and serious crime-related responsibilities in the state capital.
He was later elevated to the rank of Additional Director General of Police and took charge of the Internal Security Division in Bengaluru in June 2023.
IPS M Chandra Sekhar and Lokayukta SIT
Sekhar has also been associated with a high-profile Lokayukta Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe involving Union Minister H D Kumaraswamy.
The current allegations were raised in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly by JD(S) MLA C N Balakrishna through a Rule 351 notice.
Balakrishna alleged that companies linked to Sekhar’s wife and family participated in government tenders without adequately disclosing their business interests.
According to the allegations raised in the Assembly, Sekhar’s wife obtained government contracts through a private company from the Karnataka State Electronics Development Corporation, while the company also participated in a tender relating to skill-management software for minority residential schools and colleges.
The MLA further alleged that family members of the IPS officer were directors in 10 companies, with two of the firms recording transactions of around ₹400 crore annually.
The allegations also questioned whether these interests were properly disclosed under the All India Services (Conduct) Rules and in the officer’s property returns.
Karnataka Government Seeks Report
Chief Minister D K Shivakumar said the state government has sought a report from the state police chief regarding the allegations.
The government stated that Sekhar had informed it through letters dated June 29 and July 3 that his wife, son and daughter were directors in several companies.
He was subsequently asked to submit explanations and supporting documents concerning the allegations.
Sekhar, while speaking to Deccan Herald, reportedly said the allegations had emerged against the backdrop of the Lokayukta SIT investigation involving H D Kumaraswamy, which he had headed.
At this stage, the allegations remain allegations, and the government-ordered report will be important in determining the facts and whether any violation of service rules occurred.
Police Medal for Meritorious Service
During his career, M Chandra Sekhar has also received recognition for his policing service. He was awarded the Police Medal for Meritorious Service in 2016.
His career has included assignments involving law and order, crime investigation, internal security and senior police administration, making him one of the senior Karnataka-cadre IPS officers currently serving in the state.
