Capital Cops: The Unofficial Guide to Delhi Police

When the suggestion for writing this book was first made, I wondered what was there to write about. After all, Delhi Police is just one of the many police forces in the country. But, as I started to read up and research, two things stood out. First, even after serving for over three decades, I didn’t know enough about the Delhi Police. Second, there was no book available which could help me learn more. Delhi Police is responsible for policing India’s capital city and like any other police force in the country it is regulated by the Constitution and all other relevant statutes. But what makes it unique is the strange mix of history, culture and tradition which has been instrumental in its evolution. No other police force has shaped and has been shaped by the course of history as much. Delhi Police is not one of many but truly one of its kind. Moreover, the Delhi Police owes a primer to the citizens of Delhi. They draw their knowledge about their police either from the crime columns of newspapers or from social media chatter, interspersed with occasional press releases from the PR department. The reality of Delhi Police lies somewhere in between. This book is the first, albeit a partial attempt, to fill this void.