Deven Bharti who played key role in 26/11 investigation is Mumbai CP
Bharti, who will retire in 2028, succeeds Vivek Phansalkar. He will be the first additional director-general in a decade to head the city's police force. Usually, the commissioner's position is occupied by a DG-rank officer. From January 2023 though, Bharti has been serving as special CP, a lateral position especially created for him by then home minister Devendra Fadnavis.
The officer, originally from Darbhanga, studied at the Delhi School of Economics before joining the IPS. In his long stint in the city, he has come to know well the innards of Mumbai. He has served variously as joint commissioner, law and order, headed the state's Anti-Terror Squad (ATS) and he was part of the Mumbai Crime branch that probed an array of high-profile and sensitive cases including the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack, the cases against Indian Mujahideen (IM) operatives, the Sheena Bora murder case, the killing of Chhota Rajan operative Farid Tanasha and the sensational murder of journalist J Dey.
However, when the Maha Vikas Aghadi government came to power in 2019, Bharti fell afoul of the political dispensation and he was posted as head of Maharashtra State Security Corporation (MSSC), widely considered to be an inconsequential post. He also faced a slew of allegations made by former police commissioner Sanjay Pandey about allegedly favouring the criminal Vijay Palande. In November last year, the Shiv Sena-BJP government however rejected Pandey's report, paving the way for Bharti's rise to the top position in Mumbai police.
Former commissioners of police Hassan Gafoor who held charge during 26/11 and Rakesh Maria who was ousted as CP by Fadnavis for his investigation into the Sheena Bora murder case, had, in the past, expressed reservations about certain aspects of Bharti's style of functioning, but he remains widely respected as one of the most astute investigators. 'Deven Bharti has an excellent network of informants and sources across the city. He especially knows the working of the financial city and he pretty much had a run of Mumbai when he was joint CP, law and order,' said a senior officer, speaking on the condition that he not be quoted.
He had a key role to play during the 26/11 terror investigations which have come to the fore again with the extradition of Tahawwur Rana. On that night of the attack Bharti was posted at the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel in Colaba where the terrorist had kept several people hostage. 'Later he was part of a three-member team that travelled to the US and coordinated with the FBI to make the case against the Pakistani nationals involved in the 26/11 terror attack. India had sought the US agencies' help in sharing proof like details of calls made through VoIP and from the satellite phones besides getting documents related to Global Positioning System used by the terrorists when they set sail from Karachi to Mumbai,' said the police officer quoted above.
Bharti along with his then boss Rakesh Maria also played a key role in busting the terror group Indian Mujahideen (IM) which had orchestrated a series of blasts across the country and which, until then, had been a shadowy entity to the extent that even central agencies like the Intelligence Bureau and the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) did not have much idea about them.
'He has played an important role in making the Mumbai Police control room tech savvy. He installed patrolling vehicles with new age technology that greatly helped in controlling street crimes,' said another police officer who has worked with Bharti.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News18
21 minutes ago
- News18
All's Not Well Between China & Pakistan? Repeated Attacks On Chinese Citizens May Strain Ties
Repeated assurances notwithstanding, security arrangements in Pakistan have been criticised for proving to be inadequate in protecting Chinese nationals and investments Over the past few years, Chinese nationals in Pakistan have been targeted repeatedly in high-profile and frequently fatal attacks. These acts have led to anxiety in China over protection of its citizens employed throughout Pakistan, overwhelmingly on infrastructure and energy projects of strategic importance to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a key part of the Belt and Road Initiative. Repeated assurances notwithstanding, security arrangements in Pakistan have been criticised for proving to be inadequate in protecting Chinese nationals and investments. In the midst of this cycle of violence, China has repeatedly complained about Pakistan's security measures. In the most recent diplomatic interactions, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi explicitly informed Pakistan's Army Chief, General Asim Munir, of China's 'grave concerns" regarding repeated attacks. This was during General Munir's ongoing visit to China, further adding diplomatic pressure to Pakistan to showcase its commitment to keeping Chinese nationals safe. In response, a red-faced Munir assured that the Pakistani military remains committed to taking all necessary steps to safeguard Chinese citizens, projects, and institutions in Pakistan. He further emphasised Pakistan's willingness to strengthen bilateral counter-terrorism cooperation with China. Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif chairs a meeting regarding security arrangements for Chinese citizens in Pakistan, in Islamabad on 22 July 2025. — Shehbaz Digital Media (@ShehbazDigital) July 22, 2025 China has always demanded 'strict action" by Pakistani authorities following every attack and applied diplomatic pressure—right up to the level of government—to express its annoyance and call for greater protection. The Chinese Embassy in Islamabad has made repeated public statements against the violence and called for greater security. In response to the latest developments, Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif called a top-level security meeting on July 22, stressing, in consultation with security agencies, that Pakistan's intention was to enhance security measures for Chinese workers and their related projects. Major attacks on Chinese nationals in Pakistan A number of attacks in recent years has brought the sensitive position of Chinese citizens in Pakistan into focus: November 5, 2024: Two Chinese employees of a textile factory in Karachi were severely injured when a Pakistani security guard fired on them. While authorities denied it was militancy-related, it raised concerns and brought new scrutiny to security measures. October 6, 2024: A suicide blast near Karachi airport killed two Chinese citizens and wounded at least 10 others. The suicide bomber targeted a Chinese engineers' convoy. The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), which is anti-large development projects in Balochistan, claimed responsibility. March 26, 2024: Five Chinese engineers and their Pakistani driver were killed by a suicide bombing while travelling to the Dasu Dam in Bisham Tehsil, Shangla District (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa). The Afghan involvement was alleged by the Pakistani government, and counter-terror operations following the incident resulted in the arrests of at least 12 suspects. August 13, 2023: A Chinese engineers' convoy en route to the Gwadar Port was attacked repeatedly by BLA's Majeed Brigade. Four Chinese nationals and 11 Pakistani military personnel were killed. April 26, 2022: Three Chinese teachers at Karachi University's Confucius Institute were killed in a suicide bombing of their vehicle. 2022: An attack on a luxury hotel in Quetta, where the Chinese Ambassador was believed to be staying, resulted in five fatalities. The Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) claimed responsibility. July 9, 2021: A terrorist bombing on a bus heading to the Dasu Dam site claimed 12 lives, including nine Chinese workers. November 23, 2018: Militants stormed the Chinese Consulate in Clifton, Karachi, killing four people during a prolonged shootout. These attacks create an ominous trend of attacking Chinese interests and personnel, primarily by rebel organizations like the BLA and the TTP. Broader implications and public sentiment The systematic targeting of Chinese citizens is not merely a test of diplomatic ties, but also of the faith behind the CPEC project and broader economic cooperation between China and Pakistan. top videos View all China is still a key investor in Pakistan, and the loss of Chinese lives has caused an outcry on Chinese social media, with some questioning Pakistan's stability and ability to keep foreign nationals safe. Additionally, rebels like the BLA have openly threatened China to retract its development ventures, showing the intensity of domestic opposition to international investment in restive areas. These incessant threats and high-profile attacks smudge the 'unbreakable friendship" rhetoric that both governments often tout. Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from geopolitics to diplomacy and global trends. Stay informed with the latest world news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated! tags : news18 specials Pakistan China view comments Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: July 25, 2025, 15:40 IST News world All's Not Well Between China & Pakistan? Repeated Attacks On Chinese Citizens May Strain Ties Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Hindustan Times
44 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Democrats' ‘Autopsy' Flop
It's hard to know who is currently winning the contest for 2024 ostrichism: A Democratic Party conducting an election 'autopsy' that ignores Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, or the hooting media that ignores everything beyond the Biden/Harris campaign disaster. It is this echo chamber that elected Donald Trump twice, and the question is when the left will remember that voters are the ones who pick the president. The New York Times's revelation that the Democratic National Committee's 2024 campaign autopsy won't touch on Mr. Biden's decision to run again, his coronation of Ms. Harris, or her key decisions, is certainly worth a skewering. As is the news that the report will instead devote most of its attention to 'outside groups,' including the party's main SuperPAC, which apparently lost Democrats the whole kaboodle by misallocating advertising dollars. The Times story sent writers racing for the best comparison put-down. An autopsy that lacked Biden/Harris, said the Times, was like 'eating at a steakhouse and then reviewing the salad.' No, said the Nation, it was like 'a production of Hamlet that leaves out not just the Prince of Denmark but also Claudius, Gertrude, the Ghost, and Ophelia.' Actually, said a Republican consultant in the Hill, it was like 'doing John F. Kennedy's autopsy, and only examining his feet.' Fair enough, if obvious. Of course it mattered that the Biden inner circle chose to spend half of 2024 on a remake of 'Weekend at Bernie's.' Of course it mattered that Mr. Biden then anointed a woman who'd never won a single presidential primary vote, who'd become a liability as vice president, and who then ran a policy-free campaign centered on joy, media-avoidance and accusations of fascism. Obvious, too, because deflection and finger-pointing are now de rigeur in the Democratic Party. In 2017, Hillary Clinton blamed her humiliating loss on sabotage by Russia, sexism, Jim Comey and an insufficiently prostrate press corps. The party blamed its 2022 midterm House loss on the public's failure to understand the brilliance of Mr. Biden's spending and economic agenda. Yet the mainstream media's willful insistence that the loss must be put down solely to Biden/Harris is equally comedic. The coverage is almost desperate to insist that the left's only problem is the messenger—and the means of messaging. Which puts the media in the exact same spot as the 'autopsy' it ridicules, as that document is headed to a finding that the party needs someone who does a better job of 'connecting' and 'explaining,' and who doubles down on organizing. What both camps studiously ignore is the voter verdict. That is, the voters who last year decisively rejected the progressive agenda that defines today's Democratic Party. A real autopsy would focus almost entirely on the unpopularity of the ideas that animate the political left: open borders, unrestrained spending, union power, climate diktats, police-bashing, anti-Israel sentiment, identity politics. It would note not just the polls showing this rejection, but the proof in the form of recent, extraordinary demographic shifts that show a left losing its grip on whole categories of once reliable voter groups. A real autopsy would meditate on the disconnect between a nation that wants the freedom to build, grow and achieve, and a Democratic Party increasingly obsessed with locking up and redistributing a government-micromanaged ecosystem. It might even consider a case study of, say, San Francisco, for some evidence of how its policies fail in practice, and how voters respond on issues like crime or education. A few liberal policy wonks are feeling out a new direction—see the talk of an 'abundance' agenda—yet party leaders have so far resolutely refused to go there. An honest examination would drill in to the failure of eight years of lawfare, the party's decision to weaponize government for political gain. It would ask if the partisan ambitions that fuel the progressive left's calls to end the legislative filibuster, nationalize election laws, pack the Supreme Court or abolish the Electoral College are worth the distrust they sow among average voters who want stability. It would question what internal or cultural dysfunction allowed an entire Democratic establishment to salute a misguided leader, and worse, to excoriate those rare individuals (Dean Phillips) with the backbone to warn of a coming trainwreck. None of this will happen, for a simple reason. The progressive left remains a minority in the liberal movement, but its true believers nonetheless occupy all the positions of power, including the leadership of the DNC (and most Beltway press jobs). They won't criticize their basic world view. If change is to come to the Democratic Party—and it will—expect it to come in the form of a charismatic outsider who shows a new way, not via a pro forma autopsy by an insular claque that has no real regrets over the course that actually lost them an election. Write to kim@
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
an hour ago
- First Post
Chinese nationals attacked in Pakistan, Beijing puts touring Asim Munir in a spot over security lapses
In the wake of continuing attacks on Chinese nationals and projects in Pakistan, China conveyed strong displeasure to visiting Pakistan army chief Asim Munir and pressed him to take action against anti-China groups on its soil. read more Confident from his visit to Washington DC, Pakistani army chief Asim Munir would have thought of having a victory lap in Beijing. Instead, he received a dressing down from Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi over continuing attacks on Chinese nationals and businesses in Pakistan. In recent years, armed groups in Pakistan, such as the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), have mounted several attacks on Chinese projects under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and Chinese nationals living in the country. China has repeatedly called Pakistan to rein in such groups, but the regime has failed to prevent such attacks — Pakistan has failed to prevent attacks against its own personnel as well. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Wang told Munir on Thursday that it is his hope that 'the Pakistani military will continue to make all-out efforts to ensure the safety of Chinese personnel, projects and institutions in Pakistan', according to a readout carried by state-owned Xinhua news agency. Even as the two countries mentioned the usual cliches of being iron-clad brothers with an all-weather relationship, Wang's tone in repeated statements made it clear that the Communist Party is not pleased with the state of affairs in Pakistan. After all, the Gwadar port, described as the crown jewel of the CPEC, which itself is central to Xi Jinping's brainchild Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), has failed to take off even after billions of dollars of investment over the past decade.
