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Not OG… They Call Him DG: The story of Telangana’s New DGP Shivadhar Reddy
In most cases, the choice of a state’s Director General of Police (DGP) is entirely at the discretion of the Chief Minister. So, when Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy named senior IPS officer Shivadhar Reddy as the new DGP, it did not come as a surprise. For months, political and police circles had been expecting this move — and with good reason.
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What did raise eyebrows, however, was the Chief Minister himself personally handing over the official appointment order to Shivadhar Reddy, congratulating him in front of cameras. That rare photograph spoke volumes — about the CM’s trust in him, about the personal rapport, and about the unusual warmth extended towards the new police chief.
Yes, DGPs come and go. But Shivadhar Reddy’s journey, his chequered career, and his re-emergence now are worth a closer look.
A Hyderabadi at Heart
A 1994-batch IPS officer, Shivadhar Reddy hails from Telangana itself — from Pedda Tundla village in Ibrahimpatnam mandal of Ranga Reddy district. Born and raised in Hyderabad, he is a true-blue Hyderabadi and an Osmania University student who actively witnessed the state’s political agitations during his college days.
The Breakthrough Moment: Nayeem Encounter
His name hit headlines dramatically after the 2016 encounter of notorious gangster Nayeem. A ruthless criminal with a sprawling network, Nayeem was eliminated in a meticulously planned operation — and Shivadhar Reddy was the brain behind both the strategy and the execution.
But while the credit went to the government, the burden fell on him. The mystery surrounding Nayeem’s assets, the sensational buzz around his “diaries” and alleged political links made things murky. Shivadhar Reddy, insiders say, refused to play along. That did not go well with then CM K. Chandrasekhar Rao (KCR).
Punishment Posting: Seven Years in the Wilderness
In 2016, displeased with him, KCR shunted Shivadhar Reddy out from his role as Intelligence Chief and relegated him to a loop-line post — Inspector General (Personnel). It was practically a punishment posting. For nearly seven-and-a-half years, he remained sidelined, confined to a small office, treated as an “untouchable officer.” Meetings were discouraged, even conversations with him carried risk.
Yet he endured — with silence, patience, and quiet determination. For almost a decade, he never once tried to reconcile with KCR or inch back into the BRS camp.
The Political Connect: Revanth and Beyond
Journalists close to him knew of his pain. Gradually, he grew closer to Revanth Reddy. Insiders say Shivadhar Reddy’s imprint is visible on some of Revanth’s political moves. Now, that relationship has culminated in the highest police post. Revanth has chosen to embrace him much like YSR once did with his trusted officers.
A Career Built on Intelligence
Interestingly, much of Shivadhar Reddy’s career has been spent in intelligence and related wings: SP (Intelligence), DIG (SIB), IG (Intelligence), DG (Intelligence). He worked closely with successive CMs — Chandrababu Naidu, Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, Rosaiah, Kiran Kumar Reddy, and briefly under KCR. Across the board, he earned a reputation for efficiency and solid public relations.
Maoists, however, had a very different opinion of him. They branded him a “bloodthirsty officer” because of his relentless operations against them, both in Intelligence and in his earlier role as Greyhounds Squadron Commander.
Other Facets of His Career
A law graduate who even practiced briefly before joining the IPS in 1994, Shivadhar Reddy has also served in the UN Peacekeeping Force. After the 2007 Mecca Masjid blasts, amid intense communal tension, he was appointed DCP of the sensitive South Zone in Hyderabad. He has been part of several critical assignments, many under extreme pressure.
Today, as he takes charge as DGP of Telangana, his career reads like a story of rise, fall, and resurgence. From being cast aside in a small office for nearly seven years to being handpicked by the Chief Minister for the top post, his journey is both extraordinary and telling.
No longer sidelined, no longer forgotten — that is why… Not OG… they call him DG…
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