V. C. Sajjanar, IPS (Vishwanath Channappa Sajjanar), born October 24, 1968, is a distinguished Indian Police Service officer of the 1996 cadre. Known for his proactive and high-profile law enforcement roles, he has handled critical cases involving acid attacks, Naxalite operations, cyber frauds, and cybercrime. Currently, he serves as Managing Director of the Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC), a position he assumed on August 25, 2021 (en.wikipedia.org).
🧬 Early Life & Education
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Birthplace: Hubballi, Karnataka, India.
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Family: Son of Channappa and Girija Sajjanar. Married to Anupa Sajjanar.
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Education: Attended Lions English Medium School, Hubballi; earned a B.Com from J.G. College of Commerce (Karnatak University); completed MBA at Kousali Institute of Management Studies, Dharwad (en.wikipedia.org).
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IPS Entry: Joined IPS in 1996 by clearing UPSC, joining Telangana/Karnataka cadre.
🎖️ Career Journey
Early Postings
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Assistant Superintendent of Police, Jangaon (Warangal District).
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Superintendent of Police, Warangal, where he led the response to the 2008 Warangal acid attack, resulting in an encounter–style killing of accused—praised by some and criticized by others (en.wikipedia.org).
Rise Through Ranks
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Served as Inspector General of Police, Special Intelligence Branch.
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2016: As part of elite Greyhounds unit, oversaw elimination of former Naxalite Mohammed Nayeemuddin—once again invoked his controversial encounter style (indianexpress.com).
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2018: Appointed Cyberabad Police Commissioner, where he focused on community policing, cybercrime, women and children’s safety (en.wikipedia.org).
🔍 Major Cases
2019 Hyderabad Gangrape–Murder (Vet Disha)
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On November 28, 2019, four accused were arrested for kidnapping, raping, and murdering a veterinarian.
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On December 6, police claimed the accused tried to snatch weapons and attack officers during a crime–scene reconstruction, resulting in a deadly police “encounter” in Chattanpalli (en.wikipedia.org, thenewsminute.com).
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The incident sparked nationwide debate; Sajjanar was later summoned by a Supreme Court–appointed commission over procedural inconsistencies, including the timing of arm issuance registers, dialogues at press conferences, and discrepancies in handcuffing protocols (thenewsminute.com).
2024 Cyberfraud Case
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In a separate high-profile cyberfraud case, Sajjanar posted a viral video featuring a victim who bravely confronted fraudsters impersonating police. His swift actions helped the victim get national attention via "Mann Ki Baat" (timesofindia.indiatimes.com).
🔧 Current Role: MD, TSRTC (August 2021–Present)
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Assumed charge on August 25, 2021 (en.wikipedia.org).
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Besides transport leadership, he’s continued his engagement with public safety—recently leading a high-visibility “#SayNoToBettingApps” campaign, targeting influencer promotion of online betting, calling its promoters “cyber terrorists” and spearheading SIT actions in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh (newindianexpress.com).
On Betting Apps Campaign (Mar 2025)
In a March 2025 interview, Sajjanar underscored the psychological harm of predatory betting apps on youth, urging enforcement agencies and social influencers to act responsibly and treat endorsement as cybercrime (newindianexpress.com).
🧨 Controversies & Criticism
Incident | Concern |
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Repeated Encounter Killings | Credited/implied in acid attack, Naxalite, and vet rape cases; critics question legality and transparency across three major acts (hindustantimes.com, indianexpress.com). |
SC Probe of 2019 Encounter | Commission flagged discrepancies in arms logs, press statements, and role of officers; Sajjanar’s knowledge and timing were questioned . |
"Encounter Specialist" Label | He rebuked the term, stating he never identified with it . |
Despite concerns, public sentiment remains divided—while some view him as decisive and law‑oriented, others fear due‑process erosion.
✅ Personal Traits & Policing Philosophy
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Emphasizes community policing, especially for women and children (en.wikipedia.org).
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Active on digital platforms, sharing cybercrime-related stories to educate public.
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Promotes visible, assertive law enforcement, though enforces accountability.
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Uses social campaigns (#SayNoToBettingApps) to rally public consciousness and police action (newindianexpress.com).
🏆 Milestones & Achievements
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1996 IPS batch, held major positions including SP, IG, Commissioner, and ADGP.
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Transformed Cyberabad into a proactive model, especially in cybercrime response.
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Instrumental in crackdown on online betting promotions.
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Pioneered ICT activity: revealing frauds, pushing national awareness beyond policing.
🚨 Recent Highlights (2024–2025)
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Helped trace a cyberfraud victim whose video went viral, later featured in PM’s Mann Ki Baat (indianexpress.com, en.wikipedia.org, newindianexpress.com, timesofindia.indiatimes.com).
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Led Telangana’s SIT on betting-app crackdowns, reaching over 100 million impressions on social platforms (newindianexpress.com).
✍️ Interesting Facts
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MBA Holder: Brings management acumen to policing and administrative roles.
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Acid Attack Response: First prominent action as SP Warangal in 2008.
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Greyhounds Operation: Supervised killing of a notorious Naxalite.
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Cyber Advocate: Regular public engagement on social platforms, driving online safety awareness.
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Betting-Reform Crusader: Leading efforts against predatory betting among youth.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: Who is V. C. Sajjanar?
A: A 1996-batch IPS officer from Karnataka, known for high-profile operations and currently MD of TSRTC.
Q2: Why was Sajjanar in the news recently?
A: For a viral cyberfraud rescue story and his anti-betting app campaign targeting influencers (en.wikipedia.org, indianexpress.com, newindianexpress.com).
Q3: What happened in the “vet Disha” encounter?
A: Four accused were killed by police in Dec 2019. Sajjanar claimed self-defense; the Supreme Court panel probed the incident (thenewsminute.com).
Q4: Why do some call him an encounter specialist?
A: Due to multiple fatal encounters under his watch (2008 acid attack, 2016 Naxalite, 2019 rape case). Sajjanar rejects this label (indianexpress.com).
Q5: What is his stance on betting apps?
A: He labels promoters of betting apps “cyber terrorists,” pushing for legal and social action against them (newindianexpress.com).
Q6: What is his current role?
A: Since August 2021, Acting Managing Director of Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (en.wikipedia.org).
✅ Conclusion
V. C. Sajjanar, IPS, is one of India’s most prominent law-and-order officers, distinguished by high-stakes action, cybercrime initiatives, and controversy over policing style. Whether praised as a fearless protector or scrutinized for procedural lapses, his impact across Telangana and India remains considerable. As he now leads TSRTC and guides public awareness drives, monitoring his evolving approach to governance and ethics is essential.
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