MUMBAI: For Dr Satyapal Singh, who had a reputation of being a no-nonsense, efficient and non-controversial officer, his stint in Pune, however, has been mired with controversies.

The recent gang rapes in Pune and the failure to detect the February 13 German Bakery blast – has come as a major setback to him. Several sensational cases remain undetected.

On July 17, 2008, he was transferred to Pune from Nagpur, where he was commissioner. Dr Singh is an officer of the rank of additional director general of police and he is from the 1980 batch of the Indian Police Service.

Born on November 29, 1955, he did his M Sc (Chemistry) and M Phil (Chemistry). He has done his MBA from Australia - and at the same time is an MA and doctorate in Public Administration.

He has handled one of the most important policing assignments - joint commissioner of police (crime) in Mumbai and came down heavily on the underworld and the team under him successfully investigated the August 25, 2003 that took place at Gateway of India and Phydonie. In few days, he managed to crack the case. The convicts have been given capital punishment.

Dr Singh, who has received the President's Police Medal for Distinguished Service-2004, Police Medal for Meritorious Service by President-1996 and DG's Insignia-1996, is the commissioner of Nagpur police since June 18, 2007 and prior to that for four years, he was special inspector general of police of Konkan Range. He has also been on deputation to the CBI. He also has a special service medal for working in Naxalite area.

As far as his career milestones is concerned, he worked as chairman of the committee for drawing of standard operating procedures for coastal police stations. He was also the chairman of the  Maharashtra State committee to tackle cyber crime.