Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh on Wednesday announced Hemant Nagarale as the new Mumbai Police Commissioner, replacing Param Bir Singh who has been transferred and posted as DG Home Guard.
Singh's transfer comes in the backdrop of the of the arrest of Mumbai Police officer Sachin Vaze by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in connection with an explosive-ladedn SUV found new Mukesh Ambani's residence.
Just two month ago on January 7 Nagarale was given additional charge of the Director-General of Police (DGP) of Maharashtra.
After studying till class 6 in Zilla Parishad school, he educated in Nagpur in Patwardhan High School. He pursued his graduation in BE (Mechanical) From VRCE Nagpur (now VNIT) and post-graduation in Master of Finance Management (JBIMS, Mumbai).
Who is Hemant Nagarale?
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His first assignment (1989-92), was in the Naxalite-affected Chandrapur District as ASP Rajura. At Solapur, Nagrale as DCP (1992-94), was instrumental in the creation of a new commissionerate of Solapur.
Officer Hemant served as SP and DIG in the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) from March 1998 to September 2002.
During his tenure as SP, Ratnagiri Dist. (1994-1996), the land acquisition problem related to ENRON/DABHOL POWER CORPORATION was handled with professional dexterity.As SP, CID, Crime (1996-1998), he investigated the MPSC paper leakage case which was spread over to several parts of Maharashtra, and the Anjanabai Gavit-multiple children kidnapping and murder cases.
Nagrale proceeded on the deputation to CBI (March 1998- September 2002) and was posted as SP BSFC, CBI, Mumbai and later as DIG, CBI, New Delhi.
With big cases to his credit, the officer has handled high profile cases such as Ketan Parekh Scam, the Harshad Mehta scam involving Rs 400 crore to name a few.
He then served as the Additional CP, East Region, (June 2007-2008). On promotion, he was posted as Special IGP and Director (Vig- and Sec.) in MSEDCL (June 2008-August 2010). For a brief period in 2014, Nagrale held an additional charge as Commissioner of Police Mumbai. He smoothly managed the Rasta Roko movement and was appreciated by the then Home Minister.
From May 2016 to July 2018, he was posted as Commissioner of Police Navi Mumbai where he controlled the law and order by effectively dealing with the situation. He successfully handled the Maratha reservation agitations, whose focal point was Navi Mumbai.
According to a PTI report, For a brief period in 2014, Nagrale had held the additional charge as Mumbai police commissioner.
Heroics during 26/11 attack
The IPS officer played a vital role in the horrific 26/11 Mumbai Terror attacks. Nagrale was on deputation as director of vigilance at the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Ltd (MSEDCL) at that time and used to reside at the police quarters in Colaba area, which was targeted by the terrorists.
"During the terror attacks, Nagrale stepped out of his residence on his own in order to help. When he reached the area of Hotel Taj, which had been attacked by the terrorists, he found a bag containing RDX lying nearby. He immediately took it to a safer place and thereby saved several lives," a police official said.
The 1987-batch officer later called the Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad (BDDS), he said.
Along with four other policemen, Mr Nagrale then entered the Hotel Taj, where they also helped in rescuing a number of injured persons and shifting them to hospitals. They also took several bodies out.
He is a recipient of the President's Police Medal, Vishesh Seva Padak and Antarik Suraksha Padak.
(With PTI inputs)
