Agartala: Tripura Director General of Police Anurag Dhankar, a 1994-batch IPS officer of the Tripura cadre who led the CBI investigation into the Nirav Modi-Punjab National Bank fraud and later headed the Special Investigation Team that re-examined cases related to the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, died on Monday after he was found at the Police Headquarters in Agartala. He was 54.

Preliminary information suggests it may be a case of suicide, although the circumstances surrounding his death are yet to be officially confirmed. Police have launched an investigation, while the exact cause of death will be established after a post-mortem examination.

Dhankar took over as Tripura’s Director General of Police in May 2025 after serving as Director General, Intelligence. Over a career spanning more than three decades, he served in key assignments in Tripura as well as on central deputation, where he handled several high-profile investigations.

His most prominent assignment came during his tenure with the Central Bureau of Investigation, where he led the probe into the Punjab National Bank fraud involving fugitive diamantaire Nirav Modi, one of India’s biggest banking frauds. During his years with the agency, he held several senior positions, including Superintendent of Police, Deputy Inspector General, Joint Director and Additional Director.

Dhankar also headed the Ministry of Home Affairs-appointed Special Investigation Team that reinvestigated cases related to the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. The SIT reopened several long-pending cases and pursued further legal proceedings. Apart from the CBI, he served as Inspector General (Personnel) in the Central Industrial Security Force and was part of the United Nations Mission in Kosovo during 2003-04. Between 2005 and 2013, and again from 2016 to 2023, he served on central deputation in the Bureau of Police Research and Development, CISF and the CBI.

He had spent nearly 16 years in Tripura across different policing assignments before taking charge as the state’s police chief.

Dhankar was rushed to Govind Ballabh Pant Hospital after the incident, where doctors attempted to revive him. According to Pradip Bhowmik, Medical Superintendent of Govind Ballabh Pant Hospital, the senior IPS officer was brought to the hospital without any signs of life.

“He was brought at the hospital at 12 pm, At that time he had no pulse, no blood pressure, no sign of life. We tried over 40 minutes by giving CPR but could not revive and at 12:48 he was declared dead. Post morterm will reveal his cause of death,” Bhowmik said.

Secretary to the Chief Minister Kiran Gitte said preliminary reports suggested that the senior IPS officer may have died by suicide. However, he said the exact circumstances surrounding the incident are yet to be officially confirmed.

Senior police officers secured the Police Headquarters following the incident and began an investigation. Authorities said the exact cause of death will be known after the post-mortem examination.

BI Bureau