Archive · 24 Sep 2026
Datta Nalawade Leads Mumbai’s West Zone III Policing
Datta Nalawade is a senior police officer in Mumbai.
He currently looks after an area called West Zone III.
Several police stations, offices and neighbourhoods are part of his zone.
Earlier, he worked on important investigations involving Baba Siddique and Salman Khan.
He also helped investigate suspected drug networks.
In 2025, police found a large mephedrone-making factory during an operation he led.
He has worked with Mumbai’s cybercrime police on financial fraud cases.
He also tried to help safely rescue children during a hostage crisis in Powai.
Datta Nalawade is serving as Deputy Commissioner of Police for Mumbai’s West Zone III.
His jurisdiction includes Meghwadi, Jogeshwari, Powai, Sakinaka, Andheri and MIDC police stations.
He previously supervised high-profile investigations involving Baba Siddique’s murder and the firing outside Salman Khan’s residence.
In 2025, he led an operation uncovering a mephedrone factory in Mysuru and the seizure of 192.53 kilograms of the drug.
Nalawade has also worked in narcotics enforcement, cybercrime investigations, crime detection and hostage-crisis management.
- Who
- Datta Nalawade, a Maharashtra State Police Service officer and Deputy Commissioner of Police.
- What
- He is leading Mumbai’s West Zone III and has previously supervised major crime, narcotics, cybercrime and hostage-crisis operations.
- When
- He has served as a DCP in Mumbai since 2018; the mephedrone operation took place in 2025.
- Where
- His office is at the MIDC Police Station building in Andheri East, Mumbai; his work has also included operations in Mysuru and investigations across Maharashtra and Gujarat.
- Why
- He is responsible for policing West Zone III and has been assigned major investigations because of his experience in crime detection, narcotics enforcement, cybercrime and law-and-order management.
- Current post
- Deputy Commissioner of Police, West Zone III, Mumbai
- Jurisdiction
- Meghwadi, Jogeshwari, Powai, Sakinaka, Andheri and MIDC police stations
- Mumbai service
- Serving as a DCP in Mumbai since 2018
- Education
- M.Sc. in Agricultural Economics
- 2025 drug seizure
- 192.53 kilograms of mephedrone valued at about ₹390 crore internationally
- Office address
- MIDC Police Station Building, Central Road, MIDC, Andheri East, Mumbai – 400093
- Police contact
- 022 28367767, 022 28361312 and 022 28221859