THIRUVANANATHAPURAM: The cabinet that met here Tuesday decided to appoint Dr V Venu as the new chief secretary of Kerala and Shaik Darvesh Saheb as the next DGP.

Venu is IAS officer of 1990 batch. He is currently in charge of the home and environment departments. Venu passed civil services after becoming a doctor. Venu's wife is Sharada Muraleedharan, additional chief secretary, local self-government department.

Saheb is presently serving as the fire force chief. He is an IPS officer of 1990 batch.

Apart from Shaik Darvesh Saheb, jail superintendent K Padma Kumar was also considered for the DGP post. Padma Kumar was ahead in seniority. However, Saheb is one who won the confidence of the chief minister without involving in any controversy whenever he was given important duties.

Saheb started his career as ASP in Nedumangad. Worked as SP in Wayanad, Kasaragod, Kannur, Palakkad, railways, state special branch and commandant as MSP, KAP 2nd Battalion. He had also served as Governor's ADC and had also worked as part of the United Nations Mission in Kosovo. He also worked as Kochi City Police Commissioner in SP rank.

He was assistant director and deputy director at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy in Hyderabad. He was IG in SBCID, police headquarters, Thiruvananthapuram Range, Thrissur Range and Armed Police Battalion. Worked as additional excise commissioner and director of Kerala Police Academy.

After being promoted as ADGP, he had served in police headquarters, vigilance, crime branch, North Region, Law and Order and had worked as director of Kerala Police Academy and jail superintendent.

He has received training including from America. A graduate in agriculture, he went on to earn a doctorate in agronomy and an MBA in finance.

He was awarded the President's Police Medal in 2016 for distinguished service and the Indian Police Medal in 2007 for meritorious service. Awarded the Ati Utkrisht Seva Padak and the United Nations Peace Keeping Medal.

He is a native of Andhra Pradesh. His wife is Sheikh Farida Fathima and children are Dr Ayesha Alia and Faraz Muhammad. Son-in-law is Muhammad Ifthekar.