Pune: Special Inspector General of Police Rajendra Dahale, currently serving as the Director of Maharashtra Intelligence Academy, and Assistant Commissioner of Police (Crime Branch) Satish Raghuveer Govekar were announced as recipient of the President's Police Medal for their distinguished service and remarkable performance.
On the eve of the 78th Independence Day, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs honored police officers with medals for their remarkable service.
Additionally, 17 police officers from the state have been awarded the Police Gallantry Medal, and 39 officers have received the Police Medal for Meritorious Service, bringing the total to 59 police officers from Maharashtra being honored.
Govekar, known for his influence over criminals, has successfully solved many complex and sensitive cases during his career. He played a key role in arresting the accused who had escaped from Sassoon Hospital in the high-profile Nayana Pujari murder case and was instrumental in cracking the Lalit Patil drug case, leading to the arrest of the accused.
During his tenure as Senior Police Inspector at Dattawadi and Kondhwa police stations, Govekar, a 1988 batch police officer, delivered commendable service.
After being promoted to the position of Assistant Commissioner of Police in 2017, he served in the State Crime Investigation Department, Navi Mumbai, and Pune city’s Faraskhana Division, and is currently serving in the Crime Branch.
Over his 36-year career, he has received 503 awards. His exceptional work has also earned him the Director General of Police Medal in 2008 and the Police Medal for Meritorious Service in 2011.
The President's Police Gallantry Medal and Police Gallantry Medal are awarded for exceptional bravery in protecting life and property, combating crime, and arresting criminals.
The President's Police Medal for Distinguished Service is awarded for specially noteworthy service in the police force, while the Police Medal for Meritorious Service is given for valuable services rendered with resourcefulness and dedication.
On Independence Day 2024, a total of 908 police officers and personnel across the country were awarded police medals, including 59 from Maharashtra.
Seventeen police officers from the state have been awarded the Police Gallantry Medal. The recipients include Dr. Kunal Shankar Sonawane – Sub-Divisional Police Officer, Deepak Rambhaji Awate – Police Sub-Inspector, the late Dhanaji Tanaji Honmane – Police Sub-Inspector (posthumously), Nageshkumar Bondyalu Madarboina – Naik Police Constable, Shakeel Yusuf Shaikh – Police Constable, Vishwanath Samaiya Pendam –
Police Constable, Vivek Manku Narote – Police Constable, Moreshwar Namdeo Potavi – Police Constable, Kailash Chunga Kulmethe – Police Constable, Kotla Botu Korami – Police Constable, Korke Sunny Veladi – Police Constable, Mahadev Vishnu Wankhede –
Police Constable, Anuj Milind Tare (IPS) – Additional Superintendent of Police, Rahul Namdeorao Devhade – Police Sub-Inspector, Vijay Dadaso Sakpal – Police Sub-Inspector, Mahesh Boru Michha – Head Constable, and Samaiya Lingayya Asam – Naik Police Constable.