Vijay Kumar’s police career spans UN mission, IB, and Telangana ACB
HYDERABAD: Vijay Kumar, IPS, is a 1997-batch officer of the Indian Police Service from the Telangana cadre. Born in Bihar and a native of Sitamarhi, he studied at Kendriya Vidyalaya, Delhi Cantonment, before graduating from Kirori Mal College, University of Delhi.
He began his career in public service in 1993 with the Railway Protection Force as Assistant Security Commissioner. In 1996, he was selected for the Indian Forest Service. A year later, he joined the IPS and was allotted to the Andhra Pradesh cadre, which became part of Telangana after bifurcation in 2014.
Field postings and counter-insurgency work
Kumar underwent IPS training in Cuddapah in 1999, gaining exposure to law and order challenges and factional conflicts. As Assistant Superintendent of Police in Tadipatri and Anantapur (2000–2001), he dealt with factional violence and illegal gambling. From 2001 to 2003, as Additional SP in Bellampalli, he led counter-Naxalite operations, supervised surrenders, and launched the Meekosam outreach programme for tribal communities. Later, as SP, Cuddapah (2003), he initiated measures against organised crime.
He served as DCP, North Zone, Hyderabad (2003–2004), managing law and order during major political events, and later the UN Mission in Kosovo (2004–2005) deputed him to help rebuild civilian policing.
Senior leadership roles in Telangana
Kumar headed the CID (2005–2006), investigated white-collar crimes, and later served as DCP in Cyberabad and Madhapur, where he handled law and order in the IT corridor. He also served as SP, Nalgonda (2006–2008).
On central deputation to the Intelligence Bureau (2011–2021), he worked on counter-radicalisation in New Delhi, anti-insurgency operations in the Northeast, and cyber intelligence in Hyderabad.
In Telangana, he has held key assignments including ADGP, Welfare, Coordination and Home Guards; ADGP, Operations, overseeing Greyhounds and OCTOPUS; and ADGP, Personnel, Welfare and Sports.
Current role as ACB chief
In September 2024, Vijay Kumar was appointed Director General of the Anti-Corruption Bureau, Telangana. He has focused on systemic reforms, technology-driven vigilance, and citizen grievance redressal.
His service has been recognised with several medals:
- Antrik Suraksha Seva Padak (2004)
- UN Peace Medal (2005)
- Indian Police Medal for Meritorious Service (2013)
- Utkrisht Seva Padak (2021)
- President’s Police Medal for Distinguished Service (2023)