Who Is Dr Sandeep Rai Rathore? Tamil Nadu Transfers DGP-Prisons to TANGEDCO After Two Jailbreaks in a Week
The Tamil Nadu government has transferred senior IPS officer Dr Sandeep Rai Rathore from his post as Director General of Prisons and Correctional Services following two prison escape incidents within a week. The 1992-batch officer has been appointed DGP-cum-Chief Vigilance Officer in the Vigilance wing of the Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation Limited (TANGEDCO).
K Shankar, who was serving as Additional Director General of Police (ADGP), Enforcement Bureau, Crime Investigation Department (CID), will succeed Rathore as the head of the state’s Prisons and Correctional Services Department.
The Home Department issued the transfer order, with Principal Secretary A Karthik announcing the changes on Thursday.The administrative reshuffle follows two separate security breaches at Tamil Nadu prisons. Two convicts escaped from Puzhal Central Prison near Chennai on October 20, while 17 prisoners fled from the district jail in Theni on the night of October 26. All the escapees were subsequently recaptured, but the incidents raised concerns over prison security and drew criticism from political parties.
Two Jailbreaks Within a Week Put Prison Security Under Scrutiny
The first incident took place on October 20, when two convicts escaped from the high-security Puzhal Central Prison near Chennai. Following the incident, the police department constituted seven special teams to trace and apprehend the escapees.
Both prisoners were arrested after a search operation that continued for two days.A more serious security breach was reported at the Theni district jail on the night of October 26, when 17 prisoners managed to escape.
According to the account of the incident, the prisoners claimed that one of them was suffering from epilepsy and needed medical assistance. They allegedly used the situation to overpower a jail warder and other security personnel before fleeing the facility.
The police subsequently formed 17 special teams to track down the escaped prisoners. All 17 were recaptured by October 28.The incident also led to disciplinary action against nine jail staff members, who were suspended over the security lapse.
The two escapes in quick succession brought the state’s prison security arrangements under increased scrutiny. Rathore’s transfer represents a significant change in the leadership of the prison administration, although the transfer order does not, by itself, establish individual responsibility for either incident.
Who Is Dr Sandeep Rai Rathore?
Dr Sandeep Rai Rathore is a 1992-batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer of the Tamil Nadu cadre. Born in 1968, he is a direct-recruit officer whose career has included several senior assignments in law enforcement, police administration, training and correctional services.
Rathore has held important positions in Coimbatore, Avadi and Chennai, along with responsibilities at the state level. His professional experience spans urban policing, police training and senior administrative leadership.
Before his latest transfer, he was serving as Director General of Prisons and Correctional Services in Tamil Nadu. He assumed charge of the position on June 3, 2026. His tenure in the prisons department has now ended with his reassignment to TANGEDCO’s Vigilance wing.
Academic Background: PhD in Disaster Management
Alongside his policing career, Rathore has pursued higher education and academic research.His educational qualifications include a Bachelor of Arts degree in Geography, a Master of Arts degree and an MPhil. In 2025, he earned a PhD in Disaster Management from Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT).
His academic achievements have added a research dimension to his professional profile, earning him recognition as a scholar-cop – a term often used for police officers who combine field experience with academic pursuits.
From Coimbatore to Senior Police Leadership
One of Rathore’s early significant assignments was as Deputy Commissioner of Police in Coimbatore. He served in the city during the period of the 1998 Coimbatore bomb blasts, when the region faced major security challenges.
The assignment exposed him to policing in a sensitive law-and-order environment. In the years that followed, he moved into senior positions within the Tamil Nadu Police, handling responsibilities related to police administration, training and metropolitan policing.
First Police Commissioner of Avadi
Rathore served as the first Police Commissioner of the newly established Avadi Police Commissionerate during 2022-2023.The creation of the commissionerate was part of a wider reorganisation of policing arrangements in the expanding Chennai metropolitan region. As its inaugural commissioner, Rathore was responsible for leading the new police establishment and overseeing its operational and administrative functioning.
109th Commissioner of Greater Chennai Police
On June 30, 2023, Rathore assumed charge as the 109th Commissioner of Greater Chennai Police, succeeding Shankar Jiwal. The appointment placed him at the helm of the police force responsible for maintaining law and order in one of India’s largest metropolitan areas. His responsibilities included overseeing the city’s policing machinery, public safety arrangements and law-enforcement operations.
He subsequently held other senior assignments, including DGP of Training and, according to the career details provided, the position of Director General of Police and Head of Police Force in Tamil Nadu.
Appointment as Tamil Nadu’s Top Cop
Rathore was also appointed Director General of Police and Head of Police Force ahead of the state’s major Assembly elections.
The appointment marked another important stage in his career, placing him in the top leadership position of the Tamil Nadu Police. His earlier experience as DGP of Training had also given him exposure to police capacity-building and institutional administration.
His career has therefore covered a wide range of responsibilities, from operational policing and metropolitan leadership to senior positions in the state police establishment.
From Prison Administration to TANGEDCO Vigilance
Rathore’s latest posting takes him from correctional administration to a vigilance-related assignment in Tamil Nadu’s power utility. He will serve as DGP-cum-Chief Vigilance Officer in the Vigilance wing of the Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation Limited (TANGEDCO).
His transfer follows the two prison escapes reported at Puzhal Central Prison and the Theni district jail. While the two convicts who escaped from Puzhal on October 20 were arrested after two days, the 17 prisoners who fled from Theni on October 26 were recaptured on October 28.
The Theni incident led to the suspension of nine jail personnel and intensified questions about security arrangements in correctional facilities. Meanwhile, K Shankar will take charge as the new Director General of Prisons and Correctional Services. He moves to the post from his assignment as ADGP of the Enforcement Bureau, CID.
The change in leadership comes at a time when Tamil Nadu’s prison administration faces renewed scrutiny over security protocols and the prevention of escapes.
