Former Police Officer Makarand Ranade Sworn in as Maharashtra State Information Commissioner

Mumbai, 8th March 2024: The recent appointment of Makarand Ranade, the First Additional Commissioner of Police at the Pimpri-Chinchwad City Police Commissionerate, as the Maharashtra State Information Commissioner marks a significant development. The swearing-in ceremony for this appointment took place on Thursday (7th March) at the Mantralaya’s conference hall.

In addition to Makarand Ranade, Shekhar Channe and Dr Pradeep Kumar Vyas have also assumed roles as Maharashtra State Information Commissioners. Maharashtra Lokayukta Justice VM Kanade of the state administered the oath of office to the three appointees.

The swearing-in ceremony was attended by State Chief Information Commissioner of Pune Division Sameer Sahai, Additional Chief Secretary of the General Administration Department Sujata Saunik, Rajgopal Deora, Nitin Gadre, Former Chief Electoral Officer Shrikant Deshpande, Nagpur Bench State Information Commissioner Rahul Pandey, and State Information Commissioner of Nashik Division Bhupendra Gurav.

Makarand Ranade, previously serving as the Deputy Commissioner of Police in the Pune City Police Force and later as the Superintendent of Police in various districts, played a pivotal role in the establishment of the Pimpri-Chinchwad City Police Commissionerate, which commenced operations on August 15, 2018. Upon its inception, he assumed the position of the city’s first Additional Commissioner of Police, overseeing the development and functioning of the Commissionerate. During the initial stages, when the commissioner’s office was situated at the auto cluster in Chinchwad, Ranade took charge of inspecting and organizing the premises at Premlok Park, where the commissioner’s office and other facilities were established.

After his tenure in Pimpri-Chinchwad, he was transferred to the position of Special Inspector General of Police in the Amravati Zone, followed by a transfer to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) before his retirement. Post-retirement, Makarand Ranade has now assumed the significant role of State Information Commissioner.

In the current administrative landscape, Sameer Sahay, the State Information Commissioner for Pune Division, holds an additional charge as the State Chief Information Commissioner, along with overseeing the role of State Information Commissioner for Brihanmumbai and Aurangabad Divisions. Rahul Pandey, the Information Commissioner for Nagpur Division, is also assigned the responsibility of Amravati Division. Additionally, Nashik Division Commissioner Bhupendra Gurav carries the additional charge of Konkan Division.