Thiruvananthapuram: Senior IPS officer Rawada Chandrasekhar officially assumed office as the new State Police Chief of Kerala on Monday morning. The baton of leadership was handed over to him by ADGP H Venkatesh, who had been serving as the interim police chief. The brief and formal ceremony was held at 7 AM at the state police headquarters.
Following his assumption of charge, Chandrasekhar held key discussions with senior officers including ADGP S Sreejith (Headquarters), ADGP H Venkatesh (Law and Order), and ADGP M.R. Ajith Kumar (Battalions). He also paid homage to fallen police personnel by placing a wreath at the Dheerasmriti Bhoomi, the memorial within the police headquarters premises.
Hailing from West Godavari district in Andhra Pradesh, Rawada Chandrasekhar belongs to the 1991 IPS batch and brings with him a wealth of experience from his previous tenure as Special Director in the Intelligence Bureau. He was recently appointed as Security Secretary in the Union Cabinet, and his current term of service will extend till 2026. His new role as Kerala’s top cop has effectively granted him an additional year of service.
He becomes the 41st Police Chief of Kerala.
Chandrasekhar arrived in Thiruvananthapuram earlier in the morning and was welcomed at the airport by top officials including ADGP M.R. Ajith Kumar, City Police Commissioner Thompson Jose, and AIG G. Poonguzhali. He proceeded directly to the police headquarters to officially take charge.
In a significant move, his first public appearance after taking office was alongside Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan at a function held in Kannur, signaling his immediate involvement in key state affairs.
His selection followed the UPSC's submission of a three-member panel to the state government, which included DGP Nitin Agarwal, Yogesh Gupta, and Rawada Chandrasekhar himself. Among them, Chandrasekhar was the second name on the list. While Agarwal currently serves as Road Safety Commissioner, Gupta heads the Fire and Rescue Services.
Chandrasekhar’s appointment marks a new chapter in Kerala’s law enforcement leadership, with high expectations for strategic reforms, intelligence-driven policing, and improved public safety.