Mahesh Bhagwat

Mahesh Muralidhar Bhagwat is an Indian Police Service (IPS) officer who received the U.S. Department of State's Trafficking in Persons Report Heroes Award in 2017. In April 2026, Bhagwat was promoted to the rank of Director General of Police and continued in the Law and Order post.

He served as 1st and longest commissioner of Police Rachakonda in Hyderabad east side for 6.5 years. He was recently transferred from the post of ADGP Railways, Road Safety and Legal Telangana to ADG Law and order. .

He has also acted as a resource person at the National Police Training Academy in Hyderabad and other states, providing training programs on community policing and anti-trafficking efforts.

Education

Bhagwat holds a Bachelor of Engineering degree in Civil Engineering from the College of Engineering Pune and a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree from Osmania University, Hyderabad. Bhagwat has done his schooling from ZP school till 4th standard and Sri Tilok Jain Vidyalaya till 10th standard at Pathardi, District Ahmednagar, Maharashtra from 1974 to 1984. Done his intermediate studies from SP College Pune in 1984 to 1986.

Career and Postings

Bhagwat joined the Indian Police Service (IPS) in 1995. Throughout his career, he has held various positions:

Early career 1997-1999: Served in Manipur for two years after completing foundation course in LBSNAA Mussoorie and IPS training at SVPNPA Hyderabad

Publications

Mahesh has contributed to eight books on trafficking published by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the Ministry of Home Affairs, India. One of his notable works, Synergy Between Stakeholders, is used as resource material for the anti-trafficking certificate diploma course at Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), Delhi.

Recognition

Awards

Year Award Organization Description Reference 2004 Community Policing Award and Homeland Security Special Honour International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), USA For the community policing project "Police Mekosam" (Police for You) in Naxalite-affected Adilabad district 2006 Weber Savvy Law Enforcement Award and Civil Rights Award International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), USA For the anti-trafficking project "Aasara" in Nalgonda District, focused on rescuing and rehabilitating victims of traditional caste-based prostitution 2017 Recognition as Most Influential Leader in Top 100 Working for Anti-Trafficking Assent Compliance, Canada Recognized for leadership in anti-trafficking efforts 2018 Civil and Human Rights Award International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), USA For the worksite school project for child laborers rescued from brick kilns in Odisha 2022 Smart Policing Award Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI) For the worksite school project