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{{Short description|Former State Police Chief of Kerala}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name =
| caption = Shaikh Darvesh Saheb
| office = [[Director General of Police|State Police Chief]] of [[Kerala]]
| image = [[File:Sheikh Davesh Saheb IPS.png|frameless|center|Sheikh Davesh Saheb IPS]]
| term_start2 = {{start date|2023|06|27|df=y}}
| term_end2 = {{end date|2024|11|30|df=y}}
| predecessor2 = [[Anil Kant]]
| successor2 = [[Ravada A. Chandrasekhar]]
| office3 = [[Director General]] of [[Kerala Prisons and Correctional Services|Prisons and Correctional Services]], Kerala
| term_start3 = {{start date|2021|08|02|df=y}}
| term_end3 = {{end date|2022|04|26|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Hyderabad]], [[Telangana]]<ref>https://www.onmanorama.com/news/kerala/2023/06/27/who-sheikh-darvesh-sahib-kerala-new-police-chief.html</ref>
| occupation = [[Police officer]]
| module = {{Infobox police officer
| embed = yes
| batch = 1990
| service =
| department = [[Kerala Police]]
| cadre = [[Indian Police Service|Indian Police Service (Kerala Cadre)]]
| service_years = 1990–2025
| status = Retired.
| rank = [[Director General of Police]] [[File:Director General of Police.png|20px]]
| awards = [[File:IND President's Police Medal for Distinguished Service.svg|30px]] [[President's Police Medal|President's Police Medal for Distinguished Service President's Police Medal]][[File:IND Police Medal for Meritorious Service.png|30px]] Ati Utkrishta Seva Pathak
}}
| native_name =
| native_name_lang =
| allegiance =
| 1blankname =
| 1namedata =
| 2blankname =
| 2namedata =
| children = 2
| spouse =
| alma_mater = [[SVPNPA|Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy]]
}}

'''Shaik Darvesh Saheb''' is a retired [[Indian Police Service]] (IPS) officer who served as the State Police Chief and [[Director General of Police]] (DGP) of [[Kerala]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Service |first=Express News |date=2023-06-27 |title=Kerala gets a new police chief in Shaik Darvesh Saheb |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2023/Jun/27/kerala-gets-a-new-police-chief-in-shaik-darvesh-saheb-2589054.html |access-date=2025-11-18 |website=The New Indian Express |language=en}}</ref> He assumed charge on 27 June 2023, succeeding [[Anil Kant]], and completed his extended tenure in 2024.<ref name="Onmanorama2023"/><ref>{{Cite web |last=Service |first=Express News |date=2023-06-27 |title=V Venu appointed as new Chief Secretary; Sheikh Darvesh Saheb is new Police Chief |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2023/Jun/27/v-venu-appointed-as-new-chief-secretarysheikh-darvesh-saheb-is-new-police-chief-2589031.html |access-date=2025-11-18 |website=The New Indian Express |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Jacob |first=Jeemon |date=2023-06-29 |title=Why Pinarayi Vijayan selected Shaik Darvesh Saheb as Kerala police chief |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india-today-insight/story/why-pinarayi-vijayan-selected-shaik-darvesh-saheb-as-kerala-police-chief-2399787-2023-06-29 |access-date=2025-11-18 |website=India Today |language=en}}</ref>

==Background and education==
Darvesh Saheb is a native of Kadapa, district in Andhra Pardesh.<ref name="ETV2023"/><ref>{{Cite web |last=Daily |first=Keralakaumudi |title=Dr V Venu is new chief secretary, Shaik Darvesh Saheb new DGP |url=https://keralakaumudi.com/en/news/news.php?id=1096033&u=dr-v-venu-is-new-chief-secretary-shaik-darvesh-saheb-new-dgp |access-date=2025-11-18 |website=Keralakaumudi Daily |language=en}}</ref> He holds a Masters in Agriculture, a Doctorate in Agronomy and an MBA in Finance.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Service |first=Express News |date=2024-06-27 |title=Kerala government decides to extend tenure of Police Chief by a year |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2024/Jun/27/kerala-government-decides-to-extend-tenure-of-police-chief-by-a-year |access-date=2025-11-18 |website=The New Indian Express |language=en}}</ref>

== Personal life ==
Darvesh Saheb is married to Sheikh Farida Fatima. The couple has a son and a daughter.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=Who is Sheikh Darvesh Sahib, Kerala's new police chief? |url=https://www.onmanorama.com/news/kerala/2023/06/27/who-sheikh-darvesh-sahib-kerala-new-police-chief.html |access-date=2025-12-03 |website=Who is Sheikh Darvesh Sahib, Kerala's new police chief? |language=en}}</ref>

==Career==
Darvesh Saheb is 1990 Batch IPS officer. He started his career as an Assistant Superintendent of Police(ASP) of Nedumangad. He later worked as Superintendent of police in various districts including Wayanad, Kasaragod, Kannur, and Palakkad. Later he served as Superintendent of police in Railways and State Special Branch.He also served as Commandant in [[Malabar Special Police]] (MSP) and Kerala Armed Police Battalions (KAP) 2nd Battalion.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Official Website of Kerala Police |url=https://keralapolice.gov.in/home/page/news/77 |access-date=2025-12-03 |website=keralapolice.gov.in |language=en}}</ref>

Darvesh Sahib served as Governor's Aide-De-Camp (ADC) and was part of [[United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo]]. He also served as [[Kochi City Police]] Commissioner in SP rank. He was assistant director and deputy director at [[Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy]] in Hyderbad. He also worked as Additional Excise Commissioner and Director of Kerala Police Academy. He was the first Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) of the state when the Kerala Police underwent a structural change, with the entire law and order charge of the state under a single command.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Correspondent |first=Special |date=2019-06-07 |title=Reshuffle in top police echelons |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/reshuffle-in-top-police-echelons/article27585191.ece |access-date=2026-04-07 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

Darvesh Saheb was appointed [[Director General of Police]] and State Police Chief of Kerala on 27 June 2023.<ref name="IndiaToday2023" /> His appointment to post was followed the retirement of former state police chief [[Anil Kant]].<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Service |first=Express News |date=2023-06-28 |title=V Venu to be chief secretary, Shaik Darvesh police chief |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2023/Jun/28/v-venu-to-be-chief-secretary-shaik-darvesh-police-chief-2589163.html |access-date=2025-11-18 |website=The New Indian Express |language=en}}</ref>

During his tenure as state police chief, the Kerala Police saw several notable initiatives. In early 2024, he oversaw the formation of the Cyber Division, bringing together scattered units like Cyber Patrol, Cyber Crime Investigation, and Cyber Dome under a single command. His tenure also witnessed the launch of “Operation D-Hunt”, one of the state's most comprehensive crackdowns on illicit drug trafficking.<ref>{{Cite news |last=George |first=Sarath Babu |date=2025-04-16 |title=Operation D-Hunt: Kerala Police tighten net on narcotics trade in Thiruvananthapuram |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/operation-d-hunt-kerala-police-tighten-net-on-narcotics-trade-in-thiruvananthapuram/article69456536.ece |access-date=2025-12-03 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-09-13 |title=Operation D-Hunt: 146 arrested in Kerala, MDMA and cannabis seized |url=https://english.mathrubhumi.com/news/kerala/kerala-police-operation-d-hunt-drug-bust-arrest-qmslj484 |access-date=2025-12-03 |website=@mathrubhumi |language=en}}</ref> Darvesh Sahib saw cyber crimes, financial fraud, and narcotics as the major policing challenges Kerala faces in the coming years, has urged the force to continue prioritising these threats.<ref name="SouthFirst2024" />

He further emphasised upon citizen-centric policing, and directed officers to ensure courteous treatment of complainants. He also played role in streamlining police-station grievance handling.<ref name="Mathrubhumi2025" /> His tenure also witnessed several administrative reforms, increased coordination with district police chiefs, and public-safety initiatives.<ref name="SouthFirst2024" />

In June 2024, the Government of Kerala decided to extend his tenure by one year.<ref name="NIE2024" /> He retired from service after completing the extended term on 26 April 2022.<ref name="SouthFirst2024" />

== Awards ==
Darvesh Saheb was awarded the [[President's Police Medal]] for meritorious services in 2016 and also received [[Indian Police Medal]] in 2018. He also received the [[United Nations Medal]] for peacekeeping missions in Kosovo.<ref name="Onmanorama2023" /><ref name=":0" />

==Appointments==
* Director General of Police & State Police Chief, Kerala – 30 June 2023.<ref name="Onmanorama2023"/>
* Director General of [[Kerala Fire and Rescue Services]], Civil defence, and Homeguards.
* Tenure extended by one year – June 2024.<ref name="Mathrubhumi2024"/>
* Director of Kerala Police Academy.<ref name=":0" />
* Director General of [[Kerala Prisons and Correctional Services]]<ref name="Mathrubhumi2025" />
* Additional Director General of Police, Law and Order<ref name=":1" />
* Additional Director General of Police, Police Headquarters<ref name="Onmanorama2023" />
* Additional Director General of Police, Vigilance <ref name="Onmanorama2023" />
* Additional Director General of Police, Crime Branch<ref name=":2" />
* Additional Director General of Police, North Zone (L&O)<ref name=":3" />
* Additional Excise Commissioner, Kerala (IGP)<ref name=":4"/>
* City Police Commissioner of Kochi (SP)<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=Fb |last2=Tw |last3=Linkdin |last4=Whatsapp |last5=Us |first5=GNFollow |title=Sheikh Darvesh Sahib appointed as Director General of Police of Kerala |url=https://newsable.asianetnews.com/india/sheikh-darvesh-sahib-appointed-as-director-general-of-police-of-kerala-rwwdbi |access-date=2025-12-06 |website=Asianet Newsable |language=en}}</ref>
* Superintendent of Police (SP) of the districts of Wayanad, Palakkad, Kasaragod and Kannur.<ref name=":4" />

==See also==
* [[Kerala Police]]
* [[Indian Police Service]]

==References==
<references>
<ref name="Onmanorama2023">{{cite news |title=Who is Sheikh Darvesh Saheb, Kerala's new police chief? |url=https://www.onmanorama.com/news/kerala/2023/06/27/who-sheikh-darvesh-sahib-kerala-new-police-chief.html |work=Onmanorama |date=27 June 2023 |access-date=18 November 2025}}</ref>

<ref name="ETV2023">{{cite news |title=Dr Sheikh Darvesh Saheb is new DGP of Kerala |url=https://www.etvbharat.com/english/state/kerala/dr-sheikh-darvesh-saheb-is-new-dgp-of-kerala-dr-v-venu-new-chief-secretary/na20230627135044997997035 |work=ETV Bharat |date=27 June 2023 |access-date=18 November 2025}}</ref>

<ref name="IndiaToday2023">{{cite news |title=V Venu appointed as Kerala Chief Secretary; Sheikh Darvesh new State Police Chief |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/v-venu-appointed-as-kerala-chief-secretary-sheikh-darvesh-new-state-police-chief-2398719-2023-06-27 |work=India Today |date=27 June 2023 |access-date=18 November 2025}}</ref>

<ref name="Mathrubhumi2025">{{cite news |title=Kerala DGP Darvesh Saheb steps down, urges police to treat complainants with dignity |url=https://english.mathrubhumi.com/news/kerala/kerala-dgp-darvesh-sahib-steps-down-urges-police-to-treat-complainants-with-dignity-rf3gfex1 |work=Mathrubhumi |access-date=18 November 2025}}</ref>

<ref name="SouthFirst2024">{{cite news |title=Sheikh Darvesh Saheb bids farewell as Kerala's State Police Chief |url=https://thesouthfirst.com/kerala/sheikh-darvesh-sahib-bids-farewell-as-keralas-state-police-chief/ |work=The South First |access-date=18 November 2025}}</ref>

<ref name="NIE2024">{{cite news |title=Kerala government decides to extend tenure of police chief by a year |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2024/Jun/27/kerala-government-decides-to-extend-tenure-of-police-chief-by-a-year |work=The New Indian Express |date=27 June 2024 |access-date=18 November 2025}}</ref>

<ref name="Mathrubhumi2024">{{cite news |title=Kerala govt extends tenure of State Police Chief Darvesh Saheb |url=https://english.mathrubhumi.com/news/kerala/kerala-govt-extends-tenure-of-state-police-chief-darvesh-saheb-01275b37 |work=Mathrubhumi |date=2024 |access-date=18 November 2025}}</ref>
</references>

{{DEFAULTSORT:Darvesh Saheb, Sheikh}}
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Indian Police Service officers]]
[[Category:State Police Chiefs of Kerala]]
[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]

Sheikh Darvesh Saheb - Revision history

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