Rakesh Maria is one of India’s most distinguished police officers and a veteran of some of the country’s most complex and high-stakes investigations. A 1981-batch IPS officer, he served the Maharashtra and Mumbai Police for 36 years, rising through critical roles including DCP (Crime), Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime), Chief of the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad and Commissioner of Police, Mumbai.
During his career, Maria played a pivotal role in investigating and responding to several landmark cases, including the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts, the 2003 Gateway of India and Zaveri Bazaar blasts, the Indian Mujahideen module and the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks. He also led the interrogation of Ajmal Kasab, the only terrorist captured alive during the 26/11 attacks. As Commissioner of Police, Mumbai, he oversaw the investigation into the high-profile Sheena Bora murder case.
Recognised for his leadership and service, Maria has been awarded the Police Medal for Meritorious Service and the President’s Medal for Distinguished Service.
Beyond policing, Maria is an accomplished author. His memoir, Let Me Say It Now, offers an insider’s account of his career and some of India’s most consequential investigations. His second book, When It All Began, explores the origins and evolution of Mumbai’s underworld through decades of research, personal diaries and first-hand experience.
Today, Maria brings the lessons of a career spent operating in high-pressure environments to corporate and institutional audiences. His sessions offer practical insights into leadership, decision-making under stress, team building and mental resilience, drawing on real-world experiences where composure, judgement and the ability to lead under pressure were critical.
His perspective is particularly relevant for leaders navigating uncertainty, high-stakes decisions and rapidly changing environments, offering audiences a powerful understanding of what it takes to remain calm, decisive and resilient when the pressure is at its highest.
