Has been awarded the President’s Police Medal for Distinguished Service
Sunil Chadha
DHARAMSHALA: From Hamirpur to international missions and top-tier policing roles in the country, Vimukt Ranjan, a senior Himachal Pradesh-cadre IPS officer, has carved a distinguished career marked by strategic leadership, field expertise and service-driven policing. Currently serving as Deputy Inspector General (Operations) in the Special Protection Group (SPG) that is entrusted with the safety of the Prime Minister, Vimukt Ranjan’s journey reflects a rare combination of operational excellence and administrative foresight.
In his latest achievements, Vimukt Ranjan has been chosen for the President’s Police Medal for Distinguished Service in recognition of his exceptional contributions. The prestigious medal is conferred for outstanding service in the field of internal security and special duties. In 2019, Vimukt Ranjan had also been honoured with the President’s Police Medal for Meritorious Service for his commendable work.
Starting his career in 1997 as a Deputy Superintendent of Police in Himachal Pradesh, Vimukt Ranjan quickly proved his mettle. After completing his basic training with top honours, he served in sensitive border areas near Jammu & Kashmir with the 4th India Reserve Battalion.
An elite commando course in counter-insurgency operations at the ITBP Academy in Mussoorie saw him finish as the best commando, setting the tone for a career focused on both discipline and results. He also earned a gold medal in the instructor course on disaster relief and rescue operations from the National Civil Defence College, Nagpur.
In field postings across Una and Kangra, he cracked several blind murder cases, launched operations against the drug mafia and spearheaded community policing, legal awareness drives, and traffic safety campaigns, initiatives that gained widespread recognition in local communities.
From CID to international policing
As DSP (Crime) in CID, Vimukt Ranjan handled and solved high-profile criminal cases, many resulting in convictions, bolstering his reputation as a meticulous investigator.
His global experience includes serving as a Police Adviser in the United Nations Mission in Sudan (2009-10) where he was selected for an evaluation team in Tanzania for UN peacekeeping recruitment. His work in developing training evaluation frameworks for UN police programmes earned him commendations from the mission’s Police Commissioner.
Back home, as SP, Special Investigation Unit at the State Vigilance & Anti-Corruption Bureau (Shimla), he led several landmark investigations, catching senior officials red-handed and earning the DG’s Disc for outstanding service in anti-graft operations.
Introduced fully automated traffic management system in Dharamshala
His environmental leadership stood out during his tenure as Commandant of the 1st India Reserve Battalion, where he implemented a zero-waste emission model that aligned with the Swachh Bharat Mission, a model later appreciated for sustainable policing practices.
While posted as the SP, Kangra, Vimukt Ranjan’s contribution during the COVID-19 crisis was highly commended. He introduced a fully automated Intelligent Traffic Management System in Dharamshala, which was later scaled across Himachal Pradesh, blending digital innovation with civic safety.
His steady rise and decorated service record led to his induction into the Indian Police Service (2009 batch), marking him as one of Himachal’s most respected officers.
With academic roots in English Literature (MA and MPhil. from Panjab University, Chandigarh), Vimukt Ranjan exemplifies the rare blend of intellectual grounding and field expertise. Whether managing international missions, leading anti-corruption efforts or upgrading public safety systems, he has consistently demonstrated leadership, commitment and a sense of duty.
Second stint with Special Protection Group
From November 2012 to 2019, Vimukt Ranjan served with the Special Protection Group (SPG) after being inducted as an Assistant Inspector General. During this period, he was entrusted with planning and overseeing close protection operations for top national dignitaries, including the Prime Minister.
In March 2014, he was selected to lead the SPG close protection team, a responsibility he handled with distinction until 2019. His work earned him multiple commendation certificates from senior SPG leadership, highlighting his professionalism, leadership and operational excellence. He rejoined the SPG in March 2023 as DIG (Operations), where he currently oversees strategic security planning and coordination.
