Mumbai: In a landmark move, senior IPS officer Arti Singh has made history as the first woman to be appointed Joint Commissioner of Police (Intelligence) in Mumbai. This appointment is part of a significant reshuffle in the Maharashtra police force, aimed at strengthening internal security and revamping intelligence operations across the state.
A 2006-batch IPS officer from the Maharashtra cadre, Singh brings a wealth of experience to her new role. She has previously served as the Commissioner of Police in Amravati and Superintendent of Police in Nashik Rural. Currently holding the rank of Inspector General (IG), Singh has held several influential positions, including Special IG (Administration) in the DGP’s office and Additional Commissioner of Police in Mumbai.
Her leadership in the high-profile Badlapur case, where she led the Special Investigation Team, gained widespread recognition. Hailing from Mirzapur in Uttar Pradesh, Singh also holds an MBBS degree, adding a rare academic distinction to her policing background.
The role of Joint Commissioner (Intelligence) is newly introduced, marking the sixth post at this rank within Mumbai Police. Until now, the Special Branch — responsible for handling intelligence — was headed by a Deputy Inspector General (DIG)-rank officer acting as Additional Commissioner and reporting to the Joint Commissioner (Law and Order).
With Singh’s appointment, the Special Branch will now report directly to the Commissioner of Police. This restructured hierarchy is expected to streamline intelligence sharing and enhance the city’s readiness to respond to potential threats.
“A direct reporting line will enable faster communication and swifter preventive measures,” said a senior police official, underlining the importance of this strategic reorganisation in the face of evolving security challenges.
Singh’s promotion is part of a broader administrative overhaul initiated by the Maharashtra government, which includes several high-level transfers and promotions to strengthen policing capabilities across the state. In a notable structural change, the previous post of Special Commissioner, which was held by an ADG-rank officer, has been phased out to introduce the Joint Commissioner (Intelligence) position.
Other key transfers include:
Anil Paraskar: Moved from Additional CP (Central Region), Mumbai to the Protection and Security wing.
Vinita Sahu: Reassigned from Protection and Security to Local Arms.
Shailesh Balkawade: Transferred from Pune to Mumbai as Additional CP (Crime).
Shashi Kumar Meena: Appointed as Additional CP (North Region), Mumbai.
Rakesh Kalasagar: Becomes Commissioner of Railway Police, Mumbai, moving from SRPF Amravati.
Dhananjay Kulkarni: Promoted from SP, Ratnagiri to Additional CP (Special Branch), Mumbai.
Vikram Deshmane: Now Additional CP (Central Region), Mumbai, formerly SP, Nashik Rural.
Arvind Chawariya: Takes charge as Commissioner of Police, Amravati, previously Additional CP, Pune.
Rajendra Dabhade and Pravin Patil: Appointed Additional CPs in Nagpur.
Pramod Shewale: Joins the Anti-Terrorism Squad as DIG, leaving his previous role in Nagpur.
S.T. Rathod: Becomes DIG of the newly established Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF).
Sharada Raut: Formerly with the CBI, appointed as Special IG, ANTF.
This comprehensive reshuffle reflects the Maharashtra government’s intent to modernise police leadership, strengthen intelligence-driven operations, and foster better coordination across departments to tackle present-day security challenges.
