It is one of the largest police departments in the country, having about 36 district police units in the state. The Maharashtra Police Department has a strength of nearly 1.95 lakh.[1] It also has 15,000 women in its force.[6]
History
During the 17th century (until 1655), the area of present-day Mumbai was under Portuguese control. The Portuguese formed a basic law enforcement structure in this area with the establishment of a Police outpost in 1661.[7]
The origins of the present day Mumbai police can be traced back to a militia organized by Gerald Aungier, the then Governor of Bombay in 1669. This Bhandari Militia was composed of around 500 men and was headquartered at Mahim, Sevree and Sion.[8] In 1672, the judicial overview of police decisions by courts was introduced, although none of the judges had any actual legal training.[9] The situation remained unchanged through the Maratha wars.[10] However, by 1682, policing remained stagnant. There was only one ensign for the whole Bhandari militia, and there were only three sergeants and two corporals.[7]
The Maharashtra Police Headquarters moved into what was known as the Royal Alfred Sailors' Home, in 1896. Construction began on the building in early 1872 and was finished four years later, in 1876. As its name suggests, it was made to accommodate 20 officers and 100 seamen. However, the building was actually conceived to commemorate the visit of the Duke of Edinburgh in 1870. The Duke laid the Foundation stone during his visit.
The Maharashtra government acquired the building in 1928 to house the Bombay Legislative Council. The Police Department subsequently moved in after it was vacated.
The Maharashtra Police Headquarters is in a Grade I listed its heritage building that was built between 1872 and 1876 and designed by Frederick William Stevens (who designed the Victoria Terminus). During the British Raj, it served as the Royal Alfred Sailors' Home, named after Prince Alfred, the second son of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, who visited Bombay in 1870. The building was used to house sick European sailors. After 1928, it served as the Legislative Assembly and then the Bombay Council Hall until 1982, when the Maharashtra Police moved into the building.
Maharashtra State Criminal Investigation Department
Maharashtra State Criminal Investigation Department (CID) is a Crime Branch which was established in 1905 and is headquartered in Pune. It is headed by the Additional Director General of Police.
The Quick Response Team (QRT) was created to protect the coasts of Maharashtra. Since Mumbai is vulnerable to attacks from terrorists and underworld elements, there was a need for a highly trained, motivated, young, fit and fully equipped team to tackle such groups and to terminate hostage situations. This team responds in the shortest time, moves by fastest means, takes action to collect tactical information and neutralizes the threat. They rescue hostages, render assistance to Central forces and other State forces on Government duty. On the occasion of 30th Maharashtra Road Safety Week, Maharashtra Police launched "Cop for a Day" Program, this new initiative allows any citizen to be a part of the Maharashtra Police Force for 1 Day and be associated with different departments within Maharashtra Police[18]
Mumbai Police (Marathi: मुंबई पोलीस, IAST: Mumbaī Pulīs, officially Greater Mumbai Police, formerly Bombay Police) is the police department of the city of Mumbai, Maharashtra. It is a part of Maharashtra Police and has the primary responsibilities of law enforcement and investigation within the limits of Mumbai.[20]
Thane City Police
Thane City Police (Marathi: ठाणे शहर पोलीस) is the police department of the city of Thane City, Maharashtra. It is a part of Maharashtra Police and has the primary responsibilities of law enforcement and investigation within the limits of Thane City.[21]
Navi Mumbai Police
Navi Mumbai Police (Marathi: नवी मुंबई पोलीस) is the police department of the city of Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra. It is a part of Maharashtra Police and has the primary responsibilities of law enforcement and investigation within the limits of Navi Mumbai.[22]
Nashik City Police
Nashik City Police (Marathi: नाशिक शहर पोलीस) is the police department of the city of Nashik City, Maharashtra. It is a part of Maharashtra Police and has the primary responsibilities of law enforcement and investigation within the limits of Nashik City.[23]
Pune City Police
Pune City Police (Marathi: पुणे शहर पोलीस) is the police department of the city of Pune City, Maharashtra. It is a part of Maharashtra Police and has the primary responsibilities of law enforcement and investigation within the limits of Pune City.[24]
Solapur City Police
Solapur City Police (Marathi: सोलापूर शहर पोलीस) is the police department of the city of Solapur City, Maharashtra. It is a part of Maharashtra Police and has the primary responsibilities of law enforcement and investigation within the limits of Solapur City.[25]
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Police
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Police (Marathi: छत्रपती संभाजीनगर पोलीस, Earlier: Aurangabad City Police) is the police department of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Maharashtra. It is a part of Maharashtra Police and has the primary responsibilities of law enforcement and investigation within the limits of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar.[26]
Amravati City Police
Amravati City Police (Marathi: अमरावती शहर पोलीस) is the police department of the city of Amravati, Maharashtra. It is a part of Maharashtra Police and has the primary responsibilities of law enforcement and investigation within the limits of Amravati City.
Nagpur City Police
Nagpur City Police (Marathi: नागपूर शहर पोलीस) is the police department of the city of Nagpur, Maharashtra. It is a part of Maharashtra Police and has the primary responsibilities of law enforcement and investigation within the limits of Nagpur.
Pimpri-Chinchwad Police (Marathi: पिंपरी-चिंचवड पोलीस) is the police department of the city of Pimpri-Chinchwad, Maharashtra. It is a part of Maharashtra Police and has the primary responsibilities of law enforcement and investigation within the limits of Pimpri-Chinchwad.
Like various state police forces, the Maharashtra Police has its share of controversies. It includes police brutality, corruption, serving the political elite, misconduct, moral policing, as well as discrimination.
Between 1991 and 2004, there was no police action against Akku Yadav, a Nagpur-based gangster and serial rapist in the Kasturbha Nagar area, who was accused of raping several women, even minor girls. A lot of police personnel, who were in cahoots with Yadav, notified him every time a victim came forward to report his crime. Following several instances of inaction, the residents burned down Yadav's house; fearing for his life, he surrendered himself at the nearest police station where he was given preferential treatment several times. On 13 August 2004, a bail hearing was scheduled for Yadav at the Nagpur District Court. In the courtroom, Yadav mocked a minor rape victim by calling her a prostitute and said that he will rape her again, following which police officials guarding him started laughing.[27] Unable to tolerate this, the victim, joined by a mob of women with many of them being rape victims, started beating him mercilessly. He begged for forgiveness but the women refused to stop and he died after being stabbed several times during the mob lynching; the officers on guard were terrified and fled the scene after chili powder was thrown on them.[28][29] Retired judge Bhau Vahane defended the women and justified their actions, stating that "If they took law into their hands, it was because the law and law-enforcing agencies had not given them succour."[30] In 2014, it was reported that all of the remaining accused in the Akku Yadav's murder case were released due to a lack of evidence. Akku Yadav's criminal history was a notable case of police inaction and apathy, as well as vigilante justice.[31][32]
The Maharashtra Police were accused of covering up the Khairlanji massacre by shielding the perpetrators in September 2006, where 4 members of a Dalit family were brutally murdered. Following the allegations of a police coverup, the CBI took over the case, who charged the perpetrators for murder, criminal conspiracy, outraging the modesty of women, and unlawful assembly.[33][34]
Following the 2008 Mumbai attacks that took place from 26 to 29 November 2008, an inquiry commission setup by the Government revealed several flaws and failures. [35] One of them was the improper training among the police force to deal with such situations, but the report also cited the lack of sophisticated and modern weaponry and equipment, while having outdated weapons, which were rendered obsolete by the Central Government.[36][37] The attacks eventually led to the creation of an elite force named as Force One to deal with such situations. [38]
In January 2020, the Anti-Corruption Bureau revealed that the Maharashtra Police has been the most corrupt, with assets worth Rs. 40 million amassed by police personnel. In its bribery list released for 2019 by the anti-corruption bureau (ACB), the Maharashtra Police department was noted to be the most corruption complaints against it among 44 state government departments.[39]
In September 2023, it was noted that Maharashtra Police was among the worst performing states regarding compliance with the 2006 Supreme Court ruling on police reforms, as per former IPS officers Julio Ribeiro and Prakash Singh. As per Singh, Maharashtra, was among the states that were the most defiant voices against the police reforms right after the Supreme Court ruling.[40]
On 19 October 2023, Somnath Zende, a Sub-Inspector posted in Pune, was suspended after it was revealed that he won Rs 15 million on Dream11, a lottery based phone application. While the application Dream11 was legal as per the Supreme Court, senior officers stated that Zende violated the police norms as he gave an interview in uniform and used his phone on duty. However, Zende clarified that he only used the phone application when he was off-duty.[41]
Paid service
The Maharashtra police provide paid security service to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and other cricket administrators during cricket matches for stadium security. The payment for it goes to the Maharashtra government; for One day international it charge ₹50 lakh, for Twenty20 - ₹60 lakh and for Test ₹35 lakhs. Opposite to India in foreign countries such as Australia, England, their cricket boards hire private security agencies for the stadium security. Prior, the charge to provide security for cricket matches was different in Mumbai, Pune but 27 June 2023 onwards the amount per game will be equal for all the towns.[42]
^"Pradhan Committee finds serious lapses on Gafoor's part". The Hindu. Chennai. Press Trust of India. 21 December 2009. Archived from the original on 31 July 2010. Retrieved 15 July 2011. "There was absence of overt leadership on the part of Hasan Gafoor, the CP, and lack of visible Command and Control at the CP's office," said the report prepared by former Governor and Union Home Secretary R.D. Pradhan.
