R A Chandrasekhar took charge as the new Director General of Police of Kerala today. He is a 1991 batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer of Kerala cadre.

Mr Chandrasekhar, Special Director of Intelligence Bureau, has been appointed in place of Dr Sheikh Darvesh, who retired on June 30.

He took over from Additional Director General of Police H Venkatesh, who was temporarily handling the charge, at a ceremony held at the Police Headquarters on Tuesday morning.

Mr Venkatesh handed over the reins to the new police chief after signing official documents. The ceremony was attended by ADGP (Headquarters) S Sreejith, Battalion ADGP MR Ajith Kumar, other senior police officers of the headquarters and Thiruvananthapuram district.

He holds a postgraduate degree in science. Among his distinguished service honours, he has been awarded the President's Police Medal in 2015 and the Indian Police Medal for Meritorious Service in 2009.(rr)