Mumbai: Superintendent of Police P. Balakrishnan Nair, who currently leads the Kannur–Kasaragod Crime Branch, has been awarded the prestigious President’s Police Medal for meritorious service on the occasion of Independence Day.
This award, one of the highest recognitions in Indian policing, honours an officer whose career has been marked by grit, integrity, and a commitment to community-centred policing.
Meteoric rise in the service of the Nation
Balakrishnan Nair began his career in the Kerala Police in 2003 as a sub-inspector, serving in Ernakulam, Kollam, and Kannur. His ascent through the ranks was steady and characterised by increasing responsibility. He served as Circle Inspector in Vellarikundu, Kannur City, Valapattanam, and Kasaragod, and later took on the role of Deputy Superintendent of Police in the State Special Branch and key subdivisions, including Kasaragod, Kanhangad, Taliparamba, and Kannur Town.
In July 2024, he was appointed Additional SP for Kasaragod and was promoted to the rank of SP within a year, assuming charge of the Kannur–Kasaragod Crime Branch in June 2025.
With over two decades in uniform, Nair has earned a reputation as both an effective investigator and a compassionate leader. His service record includes three Badges of Honour, more than one hundred Good Service Entries, twenty-two commendations from senior officers, and the Chief Minister’s Police Medal for Distinguished Service in 2018. These formal recognitions reflect the impact of his work, which has included the successful resolution of some of the most challenging cases in northern Kerala.
Milestones in career
Among his notable investigations were the successful prosecutions of three murder cases in Vellarikundu, Chittarikkal, and Rajapuram, which resulted in life sentences for the culprits. He also made significant headway in unresolved communal crime cases, securing the first conviction in 30 years for a series of 11 communal murder cases in Kasaragod district. Nair’s contributions extend beyond homicides; he led operations that arrested a gang responsible for stealing 111 gold pieces from a Maruti Finance establishment in Bekal in 2019, and as Kannur ACP, he headed a special team that tracked down a group of criminals who broke into three ATMs in a single day before fleeing to Haryana.
His team also apprehended the elusive Madikeri Ibrahim, a notorious thief accused in over 75 cases across Kerala, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu, who had managed to evade arrest for more than two decades.
Nair’s service in the Vigilance department was equally impactful. He exposed corruption involving collusion between contractors and officials in road projects, pursued corruption trap cases, and secured convictions that reinforced accountability in governance.
During his tenure as Dy SP in Kanhangad and Kasaragod, Nair led decisive crackdowns on drug trafficking, resulting in significant seizures of hawala money. However, what distinguishes Balakrishnan Nair is his dedication to community-centred policing. While in Kanhangad, he launched the Lahari Vimukth Kolavayal project, an initiative aimed at making an entire village drug-free, which received special commendation from the state Excise Minister.
He was instrumental in transforming Kasaragod into a model district for the Student Police Cadet and HOPE projects, and he pioneered outreach programs such as Vandya Jana Sabha, which addressed concerns of senior citizens, and Thanal, aimed at preventing school children from engaging in risky behaviours. These initiatives reflect his belief that policing goes beyond investigation and enforcement; it also involves building bridges between law enforcement and the community.
Family man & proud police officer
Hailing from Uduma in Palakkunnu, Balakrishnan Nair is the son of the late Mungathu Narayanan Nair and Perayil Leela. He lives with his wife, Nisha, and their children, Sivada and Karthik.
His journey—from a young sub-inspector to a decorated Superintendent of Police—captures both the challenges and the possibilities of policing in Kerala today. policing in Kerala today.
The President’s Police Medal is a rare honour that recognises a career of relentless service. For Balakrishnan Nair, it serves not only as an acknowledgement of his past achievements but also as a reminder of the standards he upholds, both for himself and for the institution he represents.
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