CM Fadnavis hails Maharashtra cop who shielded Sukhbir Badal
Synopsis
Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis publicly commended Police Inspector Santosh Kendre for risking his life to protect former Punjab Deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal during an attack while on SPU duty, calling the act a reflection of Maharashtra Police's proud tradition of courage.
Key Takeaways
PI Santosh Kendre of Maharashtra Police was on Special Protection Unit (SPU) duty when he intervened to shield Sukhbir Singh Badal during an attack.
Sukhbir Singh Badal is a former Deputy Chief Minister of Punjab and a senior Shiromani Akali Dal leader.
CM Devendra Fadnavis issued the public commendation on 14 August 2026 , tagging both @NandedPolice and @DGPMaharashtra .
Fadnavis described Kendre's action as reflecting 'the proud tradition of courage and dedication to duty of the Maharashtra Police.' The tagging of the DGP Maharashtra in the post raises the possibility of formal gallantry recognition for Kendre.
When an attack targeted former Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, it was a Maharashtra Police Inspector — not from Punjab, not from Badal's own security detail — who moved first. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday, 14 August 2026, publicly commended Police Inspector Santosh Kendre for his swift, life-risking intervention during the assault.
The moment that earned the commendation
Kendre was on Special Protection Unit (SPU) duty when the attack on Badal unfolded. Rather than wait for instructions, he immediately positioned himself to shield the former Punjab leader — a reflex that Fadnavis described as reflecting 'the proud tradition of courage and dedication to duty of the Maharashtra Police.' The Chief Minister's public praise, directed at both @NandedPolice and @DGPMaharashtra, signals that the act has drawn attention at the highest level of the state government.
A cross-state duty, an inter-state act of courage
Sukhbir Singh Badal is a senior Shiromani Akali Dal leader and former Deputy Chief Minister of Punjab — a politician from a different state, a different party, and a different political world from Maharashtra. That a Maharashtra SPU officer was on his protective detail underscores the routine but often unnoticed machinery of inter-state VIP security coordination. Kendre's intervention, in that context, carries an added dimension: duty to the office of protection, regardless of political affiliation or state boundaries.
What comes next for PI Kendre
Chief ministers issuing public commendations of this nature often precede formal state-level recognition — gallantry citations, out-of-turn promotions, or internal police honours. Fadnavis's direct tagging of the Director General of Police, Maharashtra in the post is a signal the administration is watching. Whether Kendre receives a formal award will be confirmed through official police channels in the days ahead.
One officer moved without hesitation. The Chief Minister noticed. The rest of Maharashtra's police force is watching what happens next.
Point of View
Turning a social media post into a nudge toward policy action. More broadly, the episode highlights the understated complexity of inter-state VIP security arrangements, where state police units routinely protect figures from rival political formations without fanfare. Commendations like this one serve to make that invisible labour visible.
NationPress
14 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is PI Santosh Kendre?
PI Santosh Kendre is a Maharashtra Police Inspector who was on Special Protection Unit duty and intervened to protect former Punjab Deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal during an attack, earning a public commendation from CM Devendra Fadnavis.
What happened to Sukhbir Singh Badal?
Sukhbir Singh Badal, former Deputy Chief Minister of Punjab and Shiromani Akali Dal leader, was attacked while under security cover. A Maharashtra Police SPU officer, PI Santosh Kendre, shielded him during the assault.
Why did CM Fadnavis praise a police officer for protecting a Punjab leader?
PI Santosh Kendre was part of the SPU detail assigned to protect Sukhbir Singh Badal. CM Fadnavis commended him for his courage and prompt action in risking his own life to fulfil his protective duty, regardless of state or party lines.
Will PI Santosh Kendre receive a gallantry award?
No formal award has been announced yet, but CM Fadnavis's public commendation and direct tagging of the DGP Maharashtra suggests the possibility of official recognition through state police channels.
What is the Special Protection Unit (SPU) in Maharashtra Police?
The Special Protection Unit is a dedicated wing of Maharashtra Police responsible for providing security cover to VIPs and dignitaries, including visiting leaders from other states, under established inter-state security protocols.
