IPS A.V. Deshpande Takes Over as Joint Commissioner of Police at Rashtrapati Bhawan

IPS officer A.V. Deshpande, from the 2006 batch of the AGMUT cadre, has been appointed as the Joint Commissioner of Police at Rashtrapati Bhawan. He succeeds IPS officer Veenu Bansal in this role. The appointment was made on the recommendation of the Police Establishment Board and was approved by the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi. Prior to this, Deshpande served as the Joint CP (Operations) in Delhi Police, where he also held additional responsibilities for Licensing.

The role of Joint CP at Rashtrapati Bhawan is considered one of the most sensitive positions within Delhi Police, entailing comprehensive responsibility for the security arrangements at the President of India's official residence and estate. It includes managing VIP and ceremonial security, handling protocols during national and international events, and coordinating with other agencies such as the Army and the Special Protection Group when necessary. The Delhi Police team stationed at the estate works alongside military units to ensure security.

Atmaram Vasudeo Deshpande is a 2006 batch officer of the Indian Police Service (AGMUT cadre, covering Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, Mizoram, and Union Territories). He began his career in the Goa Police Service as a Deputy Superintendent of Police in 1998, after clearing the examination conducted by the Goa Public Service Commission. He became part of the IPS on November 24, 2011. Originally from Goa, Deshpande holds a B.Sc. degree.

Key awards and recognition include:

• Goa Chief Minister’s Gold Medal (Police) for meritorious service (2011)
• President’s Police Medal for Meritorious Service (2013)
• DGP’s Insignia for exemplary performance in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands (2017)
• President’s Police Medal for Distinguished Service (conferred on Independence Day 2024)

In his tenure with Delhi Police, Deshpande has held various significant positions. He has been the Additional Commissioner of Police at the Headquarters with vigilance-related duties, and earlier the Additional CP of the Special Police Unit for Women and Children (SPUWAC). He played a crucial role in launching the Welfare Unit of Delhi Police and reviving the 'Jansunwai' public grievance redressal initiative. As Joint CP (Operations), he managed the Deployment, PCR, and Communications units and was promoted to the rank of Joint CP / Inspector General between late 2023 and early 2024.

Before his assignments in Delhi, Deshpande's career in Goa included roles such as Principal of the Police Training School at Valpoi and positions related to vigilance, the State Crime Records Bureau, security, and other units. He also served in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands.

This appointment brings a seasoned mid-senior IPS officer with extensive experience in operations, welfare, protection of women and children, and headquarters management to a high-profile security position in the national capital. The security duties at Rashtrapati Bhawan require strict protocol adherence, effective inter-agency coordination, especially with the armed forces, and exemplary discipline and discretion.

Deshpande's selection from his previous role as Joint CP (Operations) suggests that the leadership within Delhi Police and the Lieutenant Governor’s office valued an officer with recent operational experience for this sensitive position. This move is part of ongoing administrative adjustments within Delhi Police and the AGMUT cadre.

Official orders formalizing Deshpande's appointment were issued in the first week of August 2026, and he is expected to take charge as the Joint Commissioner of Police (Rashtrapati Bhawan) shortly.