Ravada A. Chandrasekhar takes charge as Kerala’s State Police Chief, vows crackdown on drug abuse

Ravada A. Chandrasekhar officially assumed charge as the 41st State Police Chief of Kerala on Tuesday (July 1, 2025), succeeding Shaik Darvesh Saheb, who retired a day ago.

The senior officer, who arrived from New Delhi earlier in the day, received the ceremonial baton from Additional Director General of Police H. Venkatesh, who briefly held charge following Mr. Saheb’s retirement. The handover took place at the State Police Headquarters in Thiruvananthapuram.

Upon taking charge, Mr. Chandrasekhar paid homage at Dheerasmrithi Bhoomi, a memorial dedicated to police officers who lost their lives in the line of duty.

A 1991-batch IPS officer, he was selected from a panel shortlisted by the Union Public Service Commission. He previously served as Special Director of the Intelligence Bureau under Central deputation. His tenure as Kerala’s police chief is expected to continue until July 2026.

Addressing mediapersons at his first press conference, the Director General of Police emphasised his commitment to strengthening law enforcement across the State, particularly in combating the growing menace of drug abuse.

“The biggest immediate threat facing our society is the increasing influence of drugs. We will implement a special strategy to confront this issue,” he said.

He added that the issue of drug abuse among youth is not unique to Kerala, with its effects being seen across the country. “But, we must act decisively here. Awareness programmes will be conducted involving educational institutions to reduce the demand and usage of drugs,” he said.

Cyber crimes

Alluding to the threat posed by cyber crimes, the SPC assured firm action against cyber criminals by enhancing cybersecurity measures.

He also highlighted the need for a community-oriented police force that prioritises trust, particularly among marginalised and vulnerable groups.

He also addressed concerns about public grievances at police stations. “We will work on two aspects: better training and strong disciplinary action wherever misconduct is reported. Sensitisation programmes will be launched to address these issues,” Mr. Chandrasekhar added.

Mr. Chandrasekhar’s first official engagement as SPC is scheduled to take place in Kannur later in the day.