A file photo of B.N. Garudachar, IPS.
| Photo Credit: The Hindu Archives
Former Karnataka State Police chief B.N. Garudachar, 96, passed away due to age-related ailments in the wee hours of Friday (March 28, 2025) in Bengaluru. He is survived by two sons, including Chickpet BJP MLA Uday Garudachar, and two daughters.
Garudachar was a highly decorated police officer of the State, who also presided over the force in its centenary year in 1985 as its chief. Several retired police officers who worked with him recall him with fondness and admiration.
As Chief Conservator General of Forest, B.N. Garudachar (second from left) seen in a discussion on curbing wolf menace in Pavagada Taluk in Tumkur with then Minister of State for Forest Jeevijaya, DGP Shyam Sunder, and Additional Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) Ramachandra Shetty, in Bengaluru on August 18, 1983.
| Photo Credit:
The Hindu Archives
Hailing from Bindiganavile village, Nagamangala taluk, Mandya, he studied in Hyderabad and joined the Indian Police Service (IPS) before the reorganisation of states in 1956.
He had long stints in Bengaluru City in various capacities including as its commissioner. In 1963, he was appointed the first dedicated Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic) of Bengaluru City and is credited with laying a foundation for what is Bengaluru Traffic Police (BTP) today. He served for eight years as a DCP in Bengaluru and was also SP of Bengaluru district.
The rolling trophy Instituted by BEML to promote excellence in efficiency of the Bangalore Traffic Police, being formally presented to the Director-General and IG of Police B.N. Garudachar by the BEML’s Chariman and Managing Director, Maj. Gen. S.N. Bhaskar in Bangalore on June 26, 1983.
| Photo Credit:
The Hindu Archives
Crackdown on underground
Later in 1976, he was appointed the Commissioner of Bengaluru City Police at a time when rowdy gangs led by M.P. Jayaraj and Kotwal Ramachandra were powerful, with political patronage. He is credited for being tough on the underworld, even antagonising the political powers of the day.
“During his tenure, Jayaraj attacked a rival inside the court in front of the magistrate in the court complex on Nrupatunga Road. Despite political pressure, he ensured Jayaraj was not only arrested in the case but also convicted and jailed,” recalled V.S. D’Souza, who served as a sub-inspector in the city then. This period was dramatised in the 2022 Kannada film Head Bush. Gaurdachar had watched the film and was appreciative of the portrayal of his character in the film.
In this 1984 file image, B.N. Garudachar, then Director General of Police and Inspector General of Police, Karanataka State, seen during a spot visit to Kanakapura following the recovery of guns.
| Photo Credit:
The Hindu Archives
Another former police officer Gopal B. Hosur recounted how as a police officer his intelligence network was well-known. “He was a polyglot, with proficiency in Urdu, Hindi, English, Telugu, Tamil and Marathi, apart from Kannada. He hailed from a Tamil family from Mandya and studied in Hyderabad when it was under the Nizam rule, exposing him to many languages. He used to even respond to petitions in Urdu,” he recounted.
“His persona used to change with the post he held. While he was a hands-on man as a DCP, he became a more mentor-like figure as he occupied higher positions,” he said.
The Garuda Malls in Bengaluru and Mysuru, started by his son Uday, are named after him.
Published – March 28, 2025 12:33 pm IST
