Nagpur DCP Rishikesh Reddy gets Union Home Minister's Medal for Excellence 2026

Rishikesh Reddy, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Zone-1, Nagpur, has been awarded the Union Home Minister's Medal for Excellence 2026 (Kendriya Grihmantri Dakshata Padak). He received it for his work in investigating a major murder case, which led to the exposure of an alleged international terror network.

The Ministry of Home Affairs announced the medals on October 31. The honour has been given to 490 personnel from states, Union Territories, Central Armed Police Forces and central police organisations across the country.

Reddy received the medal for solving a blind murder in Nanded in just 20 days. At the time, he was Superintendent of Police in the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) in Sambhajinagar.

The case dates to February 10, 2025, when a young man was killed in a shooting in Nanded. It initially appeared to be an investigation into a blind murder, but an alleged conspiracy later emerged. The conspiracy is said to be linked to Harvinder Singh alias Rinda, a terrorist based in Pakistan, and his associate Happy Passia. Both are linked to Babbar Khalsa International (BKI).

The investigation identified 14 accused, of whom 10 were arrested. Lookout circulars have been issued against the remaining four, as they were believed to be outside India. The Maharashtra ATS, Punjab Police, intelligence agencies, NATGRID and the National Investigation Agency (NIA) worked together on this success.

Three other officers linked to Nagpur have also been selected for the national honour along with Reddy. They are Vijay Thakre, Director of the state forensic science laboratories of Maharashtra; Inspector Prabhavati Ekurke, earlier posted at Dhantoli police station; and Inspector Ritesh Aher of Beltarodi police station.

Inspector Ekurke was honoured for investigating the threatening calls received in January 2023 at Union Minister Nitin Gadkari's public relations office in Nagpur. The caller is alleged to have demanded Rs 100 crore and threatened to kill the minister.

The investigation traced the calls to notorious criminal Jayesh Kantha alias Jayesh Pujari. He is alleged to have made them from Belagavi jail in Karnataka, using a mobile phone being operated illegally. The probe also found links to Afsar Pasha, an operative of Lashkar-e-Taiba. Inspector Ritesh Aher assisted in this investigation.

The Union Home Minister's Medal for Excellence is given for exceptional contribution to police operations, investigation, intelligence services and forensic science. The Ministry of Home Affairs introduced it in February 2024. It is announced every year on October 31, the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.

Reddy's honour highlights the contribution of Nagpur's police leadership to investigations linked to organised crime and national security. The selection of three more officers further underlines the city's role in policing and forensics.