Delhi CP Rakesh Asthaana- A tough officer with an eye for investigations, strict law and order and policing for people

New Delhi, July 28

In a move that surprised everyone in the IPS circle, the Centre appointed senior IPS officer and former CBI Director Rakesh Asthaana as the Delhi Police Commissioner.

The 1984 batch IPS officer, Rakesh Asthaana brings him with a rich experience of policing of over 35 years.

Known to be a tough, disciplined and task master, Asthana is deemed to change the face the Delhi Police with his vision for policing, investigations and his eye for latest technologies leading to a SMART police force. 

From serving as the Police Commissioner of Vadodara, Surat to taking the role of Special Director in Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Asthaana has been instrumental in many key arrests and development in the police department.

In Gujarat, Asthaana was the key force behind crackdown and arrests of Indian Mujaihideen terrorists in the Ahmedabad serial blasts case. He was one of the key officers in the post Godhra riots in estugation. He alongwith senior officers Ashish Bhatia (present DGP Gujarat) and Geeta Johri (now retired) supervised the investigations.

Asthaana established that the 58 deaths in the S-6 coach of the Sabarmati Express were the result of a conspiracy, which was later relooked by the SIT appointed by the Supreme Court under former CBI Director R K Raghavan.

Asthaana won accolades for his investigation in thr Asaram Bapu-Narayan Sai case where he as Surat Police Commissioner spearhead the investigations against the Godman. The team under supervision of Asthana arrested Asaram's son Narayan Sai who was charged of rape by two women in Surat.

The arrest of Sai and Asaram had sent shock waves across the country when the Surat police exposed the molestation of girls inside ashrams in Surat and Ahmedabad.

Under his guidance, Surat set up the first CCTV surveillance system in the city, which was recently studied by a Central team from Delhi for replicating in other cities.

Under his tenure, Surat was ranked among the “safest” cities in the country, for which Asthana got an award from FICCI.

In 2014, months before he was to be empanelled to the CBI, a hagiographic three-minute video clip on Asthana featured him as “Jaanbaaz (dashing)”. Made by Surat-based filmmaker Mehul Surti, the video praises Asthana for “the splendid work” in Surat city.

The Surat city in Gujarat still remembers 'Asthana Saheb' as one of their best police commissioners in the city so far. 

Asthaana's stint with the CBI as a Special Director was not his first. 

Asthana has served in the CBI at the rank of a SP in 1996 too when he proved the Chara Ghotala (Fodder Scam) where he filed a chargesheet against RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav. Following that he arrested DGMS Director General taking bribes in Dhanbad, which was the first case in the country, when the officers of the Director-General had come under arrest.

Asthaana moved to CBI as Additional Director in 2014 who later on became the Joint Director and Special Director in 2017 while serving the country's premier agency for six years.

He was the Special Director when he got into loggerheads with then CBI Chief Alok Verma which led to CBI vs CBI fight leading to the Centre sending both the officers o leave.

Former CBI Director Alok Verma had objected to Asthana's elevation as Special Director citing his alleged connection with the Sterling Biotech bribery case. The agency conducted an investigation on their own officer even probing allegations of performing his daughter's marriage on favours by businessmen. 

However, the CBI conducted an investigation into all the charges and gave a clean chit to Asthana which was accepted by the CBI court in Delhi.

It is important to know that Asthana should not be known in the CBI for Alok Verma vs Rakesh Asthana spat. Asthaana was leading key investigations in the CBI mainly Augusta Westland and Vijay Mallya cases. He was later transferred to Bureau of Civil Aviation.

The Centre then appointed him as the Chief of Border Security Force (BSF) with additional charge of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB). As the BSF Chief, Asthana has worked closely on the border management and close coordination in Bangladesh Border Security Force leading to arrests of cattle smugglers and narcotic drugs. As the NCB Chief, Asthana was instrumental in many narcotics seizures on high seas alongwith the close co ordination with the Indian Navy and Indian Coast Guard.

Known to be a people's officer,  Asthaana believes keenly on key investigations and strict law and order.

Talking about Asthana, a retired officer from CBI who headed the agency said, "Rakesh Asthaana is a fine officer with a knack for investigations. He is an able leader who will change the face of Delhi Police and it's law and order in the national capital. He is a strict officer with a warm heart".

The Delhi Police gave a grand welcome to Rakesh Asthaana where he formally took over from senior officer Balaji Shrivastav who was appointed Delhi CP on June 30.

After taking over Delhi CP Rakesh Asthana said, "I want to serve the people of Delhi and ensure every citizen here feels safe. My motto is to bring safety in every corner of the city. The focus is law and order, crime control and focus on emergent areas. Delhi Police will work together as a team".

Asthaana is the 24th Commissioner of Delhi Police. Born in Ranchi (now in Jharkhand), Asthaana went to prestigious Netarhat for education. He is an alumni of St John's College, Agra and Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU). 

The Centre also gave his inter cadre transfer to Asthana and an extension for next one year to serve as the Delhi Police Commissioner.