Crime Branch finds a spring in step with DCP Sambhaji Kadam

A MAN’S circumstances do not always determine his destination in life. Though many took shield of their humble beginnings as an excuse for living an ordinary life, there are some exceptions who convert these hindrances into opportunities and prove their mettle.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Crime Branch, Sambhaji Kadam is one such man. Khaki suits him well and his inspiring rise in his chosen profession is nothing but a journey of grit, determination and pure gumption.

Kadam was born in a farmer’s family. There was no educated person in his family or the village to guide him. Still, he ended up topper in the school and college. While pursuing M.Sc in Agriculture from Mahatma Phule Agriculture College, Rahuri, Kadam started preparations for MPSC and UPSC and got selected as Probationary Officer in a bank, Assistant Commandant in CRPF and Deputy Superintendent of Police (DySP) in Maharashtra Police in very first attempt and that too without any coaching. He chose to wear Khaki and his stint as a Police Officer began in 2006.

While serving as DCP Crime Branch, Kadam has brought about some revolutionary changes in the department with his no-nonsense attitude. In police department, every officer maintains a bunch of ‘trusted lieutenants’. However, DCP Kadam’s style is different. He rewards or fires anyone depending upon end result of a task. That’s what his subordinates talk about him. Many ‘old guards’ in the Crime Branch have been shown the door when he learnt about their unholy nexus with criminals. In fact, he works on a simple principle which adorns as his WhatsApp status: “I will keep my promise.”

In a freewheeling chat with ‘The Hitavada’, DCP Kadam shared his life experiences and the pride his family takes in Khaki. “My parents never thought of me getting a government job. When I told them about my selection as DySP in State Police, they could not believe,” he said.

“I grew up in a small village with just about 2,000 population with no high school. I used to cycle 10 kilometers to attend school. As my father and elder brother were into farming, I opted for B.Sc Agriculture and later M.Sc Agriculture. As elder brother was already into farming, I had no option than to continue with education. However, I always keep pondering about what to do next. Then I decided to study for civil services. Those were the days when I was studying for 14 hours everyday,” recalled DCP Kadam.

Challenging case in very first posting

In March 2010, Kadam was posted as SDPO of Beed City. A woman officer in defence services was looted and gang-raped by dacoits when she was travelling to Pune from Parali Vaijanath with her family in a car. She was left naked on a lonely road. The then SP of Beed district had assigned the task of investigation to Kadam even though it was not under his jurisdiction. Within 24 hours, Kadam cracked the case and arrested five members of Jawale gang involved in the heinous crime. He then invoked MCOCA against the accused and prepared a chargesheet. The dreaded goons twice tried to escape from the Harsul jail but failed. The court convicted them in the MCOCA and slapped a fine of Rs 40 lakh.

Baramati to Nagpur 

Kadam served as SDPO Baramati from 2013 to 2015. He got promoted as Superintendent of Police in December 2015 and was posted as Principal of Police Training School, Jalna. Soon, he was transferred to Nagpur as DCP Zone III in January 2017 and became DCP, Crime Branch in May 2017.

Stint in Crime Branch

When DCP Kadam took reins of Crime Branch, the backbone of City Police was ailing with lack of enthusiasm in staff, falling detection rate and lack of infrastructure. Under the able guidance of the then Commissioner of Police Dr K Venkatesham, DCP Kadam undertook massive transfers and threw away a bunch of personnel, who were attached to Crime Branch for many years. With new teams and new pattern of Zone-wise units, Crime Branch has been largely successful in cracking whip against anti-social elements.

Kadam also headed Special Investigation Team (SIT) constituted against land mafia. Hundreds of matters of land frauds were solved by the SIT putting many gangsters and land-mafia behind bars. The Crime Branch has detected 1,203 crimes and arrested 1,985 accused involved in murders, dacoity, robbery, vehicles thefts, drug rackets, gambling in the year 2018 against 1,068 solved cases and 1,543 persons in the year 2017. “Satisfaction in the eyes of the common man gives me pleasure. It serves as my inspiration,” DCP Kadam said.