Sandeep Karnik

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = Sandeep Karnik

| image = File:Sandeep Karnik.jpg

| imagesize =238 px

| office = Commissioner of Police, Nashik City

| term_start = 24 November 2023

| term_end =

| office1 = Joint Commissioner of Police, Pune

| term_start1 = 21 April 2022

| term_end1 = 22 November 2023

| office2 = Additional Commissioner of Police, Mumbai

| term_start2 = 31 July 2018

| term_end2 = 21 April 2022

| alma_mater = Mumbai University, Pune University, Osmania University

| education = {{hlist|B.E.|M.B.A.|MDPM}}

| birth_place =

| birth_date = {{birth year and age|1975}}

| nationality = Indian|

| module = {{Infobox police officer

|embed=yes

| service = Indian Police Service

| service_label = Service

| department = Maharashtra Police

| years = 2004–Present

| rank = 25px Special IGP

}}

Sandeep Karnik is an Indian police service officer from the 2004 batch, currently serving as the Commissioner of Police Nashik. Appointed by the Maharashtra government, he took charge in November 2023. Sandeep Karnik also held the position of Joint Commissioner of Police in Pune, starting in April 2022. Before this, he served as the Superintendent of Pune Rural Police.{{cite web | last=Sonawane | first=Santosh | title=New ‘CP WhatsApp’ number to gather feedback on policing Nashik | website=The Times of India | date=28 December 2023 | url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nashik/new-cp-whatsapp-number-to-gather-feedback-on-policing-nashik/articleshow/106335543.cms | access-date=1 May 2025}}{{cite web | title=Pune: Joint Commissioner of Police Sandip Karnik transferred to Nashik | website=The Indian Express | date=21 November 2023 | url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/pune/pune-joint-commissioner-of-police-sandip-karnik-transferred-to-nashik-9036749/ | access-date=1 May 2025}}{{cite web | last=Pal | first=Pragati | title=Maharashtra Govt Appoints IPS Officer Sandeep Karnik as Head of SIT to Probe Maratha Quota Violence | website=News18 | date=11 March 2024 | url=https://www.news18.com/india/maharashtra-govt-appoints-ips-officer-sandeep-karnik-as-head-of-sit-to-probe-maratha-quota-violence-8811919.html | access-date=1 May 2025}}

Early life & education

Sandeep Karnik completed his Bachelor of Engineering (B.E.) in Electronics from Mumbai University, an MBA in Marketing, and a Master’s in Police Management.

Currently serving as the Commissioner of Police, Nashik City, he assumed office in November 2023. He served in districts such as Ahmednagar, Thane, Nagpur, Jalna, and Nanded before being appointed as the Superintendent of Police for Pune Rural.{{cite web | title=People-police interact during ‘CP at Your Doorsteps’ event | website=The Times of India | date=13 February 2025 | url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nashik/people-police-interact-during-cp-at-your-doorsteps-event/articleshow/118189813.cms | access-date=1 May 2025}}

Career

He has held several executive positions and has extensive experience in law enforcement. In his tenure as Nashik Police Commissioner, he gained recognition for his citizen-friendly initiatives and role in curbing drug-related activities.{{cite web | title=New Nashik CP Karnik to focus on citizen-friendly policing | website=The Times of India | date=25 November 2023 | url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nashik/new-nashik-cp-karnik-citizen-friendly-policing/articleshow/105487061.cms | access-date=1 May 2025}}{{cite web | last=Nikale | first=Prashant | title=Nashik Police Chase Smugglers For 25 KM, Nab One; Seize 28 KG Of Marijuana | website=Free Press Journal | date=8 January 2025 | url=https://www.freepressjournal.in/pune/nashik-police-chase-smugglers-for-25-km-nab-one-seize-28-kg-of-marijuana | access-date=1 May 2025}}

In March 2024, the Maharashtra government appointed Karnik as the head of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the Maratha quota violence.{{cite web | last=Naik | first=Yogesh | title=State appoints IPS officer Sandeep Karnik as head of SIT to probe Maratha agitation | website=Hindustan Times | date=12 March 2024 | url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/mumbai-news/state-appoints-ips-officer-sandeep-karnik-as-head-of-sit-to-probe-maratha-agitation-101710184255540.html | access-date=1 May 2025}}{{cite web | title=Maratha quota violence: Maharashtra govt appoints IPS officer Sandeep Karnik as head of SIT | website=Mid-day | date=11 March 2024 | url=https://www.mid-day.com/mumbai/mumbai-news/article/maratha-quota-violence-maharashtra-govt-appoints-ips-officer-sandeep-karnik-as-head-of-sit-23339442 | access-date=1 May 2025}}

Controversies

= Maval firing incident =

In August 2011, while serving as Superintendent of Police (Pune rural), a police firing incident occurred on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway (Maval).{{cite web | last=Kumar | first=Krishna | title=Six policemen suspended for firing on Pune farmers | website=India Today | date=12 August 2011 | url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/west/story/six-policemen-suspended-for-firing-on-pune-farmers-139196-2011-08-11 | access-date=1 May 2025}} Following the incident in which four farmers died, allegations arose regarding the appropriateness of the use of force, with claims that the firing was unprovoked and not directed into the air.{{Cite news |date=2011-08-09 |title=Four killed in police firing on protesting farmers in Pune |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/pune/four-killed-in-police-firing-on-protesting-farmers-in-pune/articleshow/9541795.cms |access-date=2025-05-06 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}} Within a month, the state government appointed judicial commission led by Justice M.G. Gaikwad.{{Cite news |date=2011-09-02 |title=Retired judge to probe Maval firing |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/retired-judge-to-probe-maval-firing/article2419079.ece |access-date=2025-05-06 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}} But the commission found no direct evidence linking him to any injuries and recommended administrative action only against certain officers for excessive response, which the State Government accepted. The Bombay High Court, while hearing petitions, too upheld this decision, confirming that due legal procedures were followed.{{cite web | title=Court refuses to interfere in state decision to let off ex-SP | website=The Indian Express | date=24 April 2015 | url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/pune/court-refuses-to-interfere-in-state-decision-to-let-off-ex-sp/ | access-date=1 May 2025}}{{cite web | last=Mahajani | first=Urvi | title=Maval firing: Bombay High Court calls for original report | website=DNA India | date=11 March 2015 | url=https://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report-maval-firing-bombay-high-court-calls-for-original-report-2067734 | access-date=1 May 2025}}{{cite web | title=Karnik deposition,logbook entry raise doubts on firing order | website=The Indian Express | date=17 May 2012 | url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/pune/karnik-deposition-logbook-entry-raise-doubts-on-firing-order/ | access-date=1 May 2025}}{{cite web | last=Sequeira | first=Rosy | title=Clean chit to top cop in Maval firing not arbitrary : HC | website=The Times of India | date=23 April 2015 | url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/clean-chit-to-top-cop-in-maval-firing-not-arbitrary-hc/articleshow/47026606.cms | access-date=2 May 2025}}

= Nashik Dargah demolition drive incident =

On April 16, 2025, violence broke out in Nashik during a demolition drive targeting the Satpeer Baba Dargah, declared illegal by the Bombay High Court.{{Cite web |date=2025-04-16 |title=Clashes erupt in Nashik during demolition of unauthorised structure around dargah; 15 arrested |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/mumbai/clashes-erupt-nashik-demolition-unauthorised-structure-dargah-arrest-9947123/ |access-date=2025-05-06 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}} Clashes with police injured 21 officers.{{Cite news |last= |first= |date=2025-04-16 |title=Illegal dargah demolished in Nashik hours before SC stay; police deploy tear gas, lathis against stone-pelting protestors |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/maharashtra/21-cops-injured-in-violence-during-demolition-drive-at-nashik-dargah-15-persons-held/article69455839.ece |access-date=2025-05-06 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}} Despite the case being sub judice, the structure was demolished, prompting the Supreme Court to stay further action and demand an explanation. Karnik, as a Nashik Police Commissioner, claimed he was unaware of a pending Supreme Court petition by the Dargah Trust.{{Cite web |last=Nikale |first=Prashant |date=17 April 2024 |title=Supreme Court Stays Action In Nashik's Saat Peer Baba Dargah Case |url=https://www.freepressjournal.in/pune/supreme-court-stays-action-in-nashiks-saat-peer-baba-dargah-case |access-date=2025-05-06 |website=Free Press Journal |language=en}} He also noted intelligence about attempts to incite unrest prior to the incident, prompting preemptive police action.{{Cite web |title=Nashik Dargah Clash: 21 Cops Injured as Mob Resists Demolition Drive |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/india/maharashtra/21-cops-injured-in-violence-during-demolition-drive-at-nashik-dargah-15-persons-held-3496136 |access-date=2025-05-06 |website=Deccan Herald |language=en}}