Mangaluru: The Karnataka government has appointed Sam Varghese as the new Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Law and Order, of Mangaluru City, as part of a fresh reshuffle of IPS officers. The appointment took effect immediately, filling the post that became vacant following the transfer of Mithun HN to Gadag.
Varghese, a 2022-batch Karnataka-cadre IPS officer, was serving as Superintendent of Police (SP) with the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in Bengaluru before being transferred to Mangaluru. His new assignment places him in charge of the city’s law-and-order responsibilities.
The government order was issued on September 7 as part of a wider reshuffle involving senior police officers in Karnataka.
Sam Varghese moves from Bengaluru CID
Before his latest posting, Varghese was serving as SP, CID, Bengaluru. He had earlier begun his policing career as Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) of the Channagiri subdivision in Davanagere district.
Originally from Kottayam in Kerala, Varghese belongs to the 2022 batch of the Indian Police Service and is part of the Karnataka cadre. His move to Mangaluru marks a shift from a primarily investigative assignment in the CID to a key operational position dealing with law and order in a major coastal city.
The DCP (Law and Order) position is an important post within the Mangaluru City Police Commissionerate, with responsibilities linked to maintaining public order, coordinating policing operations and responding to law-and-order situations across the city.
Vacancy followed transfer of Mithun HN
The DCP post had remained vacant after Mithun HN, who had previously served as Mangaluru City DCP (Law and Order), was transferred and posted as Superintendent of Police of Gadag district.
The appointment of Varghese now fills that vacancy and brings a new officer into the city’s law-and-order leadership.
The change comes at a time when Mangaluru is preparing for several major administrative and public events. The Karnataka Cabinet is scheduled to hold a meeting in Mangaluru on September 18, bringing additional attention to security and traffic arrangements in the city and surrounding areas.
Karnataka government announces wider IPS reshuffle
Varghese’s appointment was part of a broader reshuffle of IPS officers announced by the Karnataka government.
As part of the changes, Anita Bhimappa Haddannavar, who was serving as DCP, South West, Bengaluru, has been transferred and appointed SP, CID, Bengaluru, replacing Varghese.
Other appointments announced in the reshuffle include Ram L Arasiddi, who was awaiting posting after his transfer from Koppal, being appointed DCP, Intelligence, Bengaluru City.
Lakshmi Ganesh K, who was also awaiting a new posting, has been appointed DCP, South West, Bengaluru, replacing Haddannavar.
The reshuffle has therefore resulted in changes across both the Mangaluru and Bengaluru police establishments.
New DCP takes charge of law and order
With the appointment taking effect immediately, Varghese is expected to take charge of the law-and-order wing of Mangaluru City Police.
The role involves overseeing policing arrangements and maintaining public order across the city. The DCP also works closely with the Police Commissioner and other senior officers on issues involving security, public gatherings, crime prevention and emergency response.
Mangaluru, being a major coastal city and an important commercial and educational centre, requires coordinated policing across residential, commercial and densely populated areas.
The city’s law-and-order machinery also has to respond to events and gatherings that attract large crowds, making the DCP’s role significant in ensuring public safety.
Focus on effective policing
Varghese’s previous experience with the CID could bring an investigative perspective to his new operational assignment. His earlier field posting as ASP in Channagiri also gave him experience in district-level policing before his move to the CID.
The transition from CID to city law-and-order policing comes with a different set of operational responsibilities. While the CID focuses primarily on investigation and specialised cases, the DCP (Law and Order) position requires continuous coordination of field-level policing and public-safety arrangements.
The appointment also comes as Mangaluru continues to see increased attention on policing, traffic management and public safety.
Mangaluru gets new law-and-order leadership
The appointment of Sam Varghese gives Mangaluru City Police a new officer at a key operational position following the transfer of Mithun HN.
As a 2022-batch IPS officer with experience in both field policing and the Bengaluru CID, Varghese brings experience from different areas of the police service to the new assignment. His immediate challenge will be to oversee law-and-order arrangements across Mangaluru and work with other police units to maintain public safety.
The wider IPS reshuffle also signals the Karnataka government’s latest changes to the leadership structure of several important police assignments across the state.