Shashi Bhushan Kumar Singh, a seasoned Indian Police Service officer and a 1988-batch AGMUT cadre veteran, has taken over as the new Commissioner of Delhi Police. The 59-year-old officer, widely known as SBK Singh, officially assumed charge on Thursday evening following the retirement of Sanjay Arora. Currently serving as Director General of Home Guards, Singh now holds additional responsibility as the capital’s police chief.
A familiar face in Delhi Police circles, Singh received the guard of honour at the Delhi Police Headquarters shortly after 4 pm and moved into his office on the 17th floor, where the ceremonial handover took place. He was warmly welcomed by senior officers including Special Commissioners, Joint Commissioners and Deputy Commissioners.
With over three decades of service behind him and retirement due in January 2026, Singh steps into the top job as the youngest officer of his batch. Notably, after two successive Commissioners from outside AGMUT – Arora (Tamil Nadu cadre) and Rakesh Asthana (Gujarat cadre) – Singh marks a return to the cadre’s own.
Who is SBK Singh?
An alumnus of Delhi’s prestigious St. Stephen’s College, where he earned a Physics Honours degree, Singh joined the IPS in 1986. Later, he also completed an MBA in Human Resource Management from IGNOU. Over the years, his journey through the police force has been marked by steady rises and key postings, both in Delhi and in the Northeast.
Singh began his career as an Assistant Commissioner of Police in Delhi’s Central District before heading to Arunachal Pradesh as a Superintendent of Police in 1992. Since then, his resume has grown to include a long list of prominent assignments. From overseeing Delhi’s Central and Northeast districts as DCP to probing high-stakes cases like the Uphaar cinema fire, the Ponty Chadha murder, and the Hansie Cronje match-fixing scandal – he’s handled some of the most sensitive files in the force.
High profile investigations Singh has been a part of
As Joint Commissioner (Crime Branch), Singh developed the award-winning ‘Lost Report’ app. He also worked with the RBI on fake currency crackdowns and ATM security. His time heading the Economic Offences Wing saw him lead complex investigations into bank frauds, land scams and cybercrimes, even collaborating with financial institutions to roll out the now-common OTP system to combat fraud.
His leadership also extended into tech-forward policing. As Special CP (Technology & Project Implementation), he played a key role in the Safe City Project and the city’s Intelligent Traffic Monitoring System. He was behind innovations like QR-code-based feedback systems at police stations and signed a landmark MoU with IIT Delhi for the Digital Trucking Radio System.
He’s also worn the hat of Special CP (Law and Order, North), ensuring communal harmony during sensitive periods, and was Special CP (Security) during critical moments like President Barack Obama’s 2015 Republic Day visit and the Indo-Africa Summit.
As DG of the Home Guards, Singh brought major reforms, including a Rs 50 lakh accidental death cover for volunteers and a tech-enabled, transparent recruitment process using RFID-based tests.
Beyond the uniform
Singh is also a writer and thinker. His blog, Spiritual Policeman, offers reflections that blend law enforcement with philosophical and spiritual insights.
SBK Singh’s wife, Sushi Singh, has actively contributed to police welfare through the Police Welfare Society. The couple has two daughters, both settled in the US.