Chennai: In a significant administrative move ahead of the upcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, Election Commission of India on Thursday appointed senior IPS officer Sandeep Rai Rathore as the new Director General of Police (DGP) and Head of Police Force (HoPF) of Tamil Nadu.
He replaces G Venkataraman, who had been serving as in-charge DGP and Head of Police Force since September 2025 after the retirement of Shankar Jiwal.
The appointment comes just weeks before the Assembly elections scheduled for April 23, with Rathore expected to oversee election-related policing, law-and-order preparedness, and security arrangements across the state.
Why the Election Commission Changed Tamil Nadu’s DGP
The Election Commission often undertakes senior administrative reshuffles ahead of elections to ensure neutrality in law enforcement and maintain confidence in electoral processes.
With polling approaching, the appointment of an experienced officer like Rathore is being viewed as a move aimed at strengthening administrative oversight and ensuring impartial policing during the election period.
Before this elevation, Rathore was serving as DGP Training, Chennai, heading police training and institutional capacity building.
Who Is Sandeep Rai Rathore?
Dr. Sandeep Rai Rathore is a senior 1992-batch Indian Police Service officer of the Tamil Nadu cadre with more than three decades of policing experience across state and central assignments.
Known for handling high-pressure law-and-order situations, urban policing, disaster response systems, and institutional reforms, he has served in several strategically important roles in Tamil Nadu and at the national level.
He is regarded as an officer with both operational and administrative depth, having worked in metropolitan policing, anti-corruption investigations, specialized task forces, and disaster response agencies.
Personal Background and Education
Born in 1968 in New Delhi, Rathore has a strong academic background alongside his policing career.
Educational Qualifications
- B.A. (Hons) in Geography
- M.A.
- M.Phil
- PhD from Vellore Institute of Technology (2025)
His doctoral research focused on “Disaster Mitigation and Management”, where he developed a policy-oriented framework for strengthening disaster response systems.
This academic specialization later aligned closely with his assignments in disaster management institutions.
Appointment as Tamil Nadu DGP and Head of Police Force
The Election Commission formally appointed Rathore as Director General of Police and Head of Police Force of Tamil Nadu on April 2, 2026.
He now assumes charge of the state police at a politically sensitive time, when election preparedness, force deployment, and security monitoring become critical.
As DGP and HoPF, he will supervise:
- State-wide election policing
- Deployment of district police units
- Security coordination with central forces
- Monitoring sensitive constituencies
- Enforcement of election code-related policing
Major Career Milestones of IPS Sandeep Rai Rathore
Former Chennai Police Commissioner
Rathore served as Commissioner of Police for Chennai from June 2023 to July 2024.
This role placed him at the centre of urban policing in one of India’s largest metropolitan cities, involving:
- Law and order management
- Traffic regulation
- Crime control
- VIP security
- Protest handling
His tenure is remembered for operational discipline and strategic field coordination.
First Commissioner of Avadi Police Commissionerate
In January 2022, Rathore became the first-ever Commissioner of the newly created Avadi Police Commissionerate.
This was a structurally important posting because the commissionerate was newly established and required institutional setup from the ground level.
He played a central role in:
- Administrative formation
- Jurisdictional policing design
- Operational deployment systems
Role as DGP Training
Before becoming DGP, Rathore headed the training wing of Tamil Nadu Police as DGP Training.
He supervised:
- Police academy functions
- Training modernization
- Curriculum reforms
- Leadership development for officers
This role gave him direct influence over future police leadership development in the state.
Central Deputation Experience: NDRF and CISF
Rathore also served on central deputation in major national agencies.
National Disaster Response Force (NDRF)
He worked as Inspector General in National Disaster Response Force, where he dealt with:
- Disaster preparedness
- Emergency response systems
- Relief coordination
His disaster management expertise is considered one of his strongest professional specializations.
CISF Role
He also served as DIG in Central Industrial Security Force.
A key responsibility during this tenure included security arrangements linked to the 2010 Commonwealth Games.
Notable Operations and Key Achievements
1998 Coimbatore Serial Blasts Operation
During the aftermath of the 1998 Coimbatore bombings, Rathore served as Deputy Commissioner in Coimbatore.
He reportedly led a critical overnight police operation that resulted in the death of the main accused linked to the blasts.
This assignment remains one of the most high-profile early operations in his career.
Anti-Corruption Investigation in Telgi Scam Period
In 2003, while serving in CB-CID, he reportedly uncovered links involving a senior police official and accused persons connected to the Telgi stamp paper scam.
This added to his profile as an officer trusted with sensitive investigations.
Traffic Modernisation in Chennai
Rathore is also credited with planning the installation of Chennai’s first LED traffic signals around 2000.
This was considered an early urban traffic modernization effort in the city.
Experience in Specialised Policing Assignments
Apart from field policing, Rathore has held assignments in:
- ADGP Enforcement
- Special Task Force (STF)
- Police recruitment systems
- Administrative leadership roles
His broad institutional experience is one reason he is considered suitable for election-period leadership.
Why His Appointment Matters Before Elections
The DGP’s role becomes especially critical during elections because police leadership directly impacts:
- Model Code enforcement
- Poll-day law and order
- Candidate security
- Sensitive booth surveillance
- Anti-violence measures
Given Rathore’s operational background, the Election Commission appears to have chosen an officer with both field and administrative credibility.
A Career Built on Law Enforcement and Disaster Governance
From handling terror investigations and metropolitan policing to disaster response frameworks and police training reforms, Rathore’s career reflects unusual diversity within policing leadership.
His academic work in disaster mitigation also gives him a policy-oriented edge uncommon among serving police chiefs.
As Tamil Nadu enters a politically significant election phase, his tenure will now be closely watched.
Read Also: 13 Tamil Nadu Police Officers Conferred IPS Rank by Union Government – Check Full List Here
