Radhavinod Raju (Malayalam: രാധാവിനോദ് രാജു 27 July 1949 – 21 June 2012) was an Indian Police Service (IPS) officer.[1] He joined the police service in 1975 as Jammu and Kashmir cadre batch. The character Sethurama Iyer, who is the main protagonist of CBI film series in Malayalam films, portrayed by Mammootty is said to have been inspired by Radha Vinod Raj.[2]

Radhavinod Raju
Born(1949-07-27)27 July 1949
Died21 June 2012(2012-06-21) (aged 62)
Kochi, Kerala
NationalityIndian
Alma materMaharaja's College
OccupationIPS Officer

Early life and education

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Radhavinod Raju was born in Mattancherry, Kochi, Kerala. His father R.S. Raju was a post master in Fort Kochi. He is survived by his wife Achamma and two daughters Sindhoo and Renu.[3] His nephew is Music director/Actor Siddharth Vipin.

He got MSc in Physics from Maharaja's College, Ernakulam, Kerala. He entered into Indian Police Service when he was working as an Officer in Union Bank of India, Goa.

Career

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His first appointment as Superintendent of police in Poonch District, Jammu and Kashmir. Then he joined SP in Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Ernakulam. After that he served as DIG in Jammu and Kashmir.

On 19 January 2009, he was appointed as the first chief of India's National Investigation Agency.[4][5][6] Before that he held the post of Director General of vigilance department of Jammu and Kashmir.

He headed the operational wing of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) which found the killers of Rajiv Gandhi in 1991. His service history also includes important cases like the Kandahar flight hijacking, Purulia arms drop case etc.

He was working as a CBI officer in Kerala in 1983–89. At the time he investigated very important cases in Kerala police history like Polakkulam murder case, Panoor SI Soman murder case, Augustine murder case, Sujatha murder case.

Death

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He died in Kochi on 21 June 2012 at the age of 62, due to lung complications.[7][8][9][10] Until his death, he served as an advisory council member[11] of Central Vigilance Commission.

Bibliography

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  • Triumph of truth:the Rajiv Gandhi assassination, the investigation by D. R. Kaarthikeyan, Radhavinod Raju; Publisher – New Dawn Press, 2004; ISBN 9781904910046[12][13]
  • Rajiv Gandhi Vadham Oru Kuttanweshanam(Malayalam) by D. R. Kaarthikeyan, Radhavinod Raju; Publisher – Olive; ISBN 9788188779048[14]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Details of IPS officers of 1975 batch, empanelled to hold DG and equivalent level posts under the Government of India" (PDF). The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Govt. of India. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 May 2012.
  2. ^ "NIA chief inspired hit film 20 yrs ago - Hindustan Times". 17 April 2012. Archived from the original on 17 April 2012. Retrieved 8 June 2021.
  3. ^ "The Biography of Veteran IPS Officer Radhavinod Raju". news.biharprabha.com. Retrieved 21 June 2012.
  4. ^ "Raju becomes the first Chief of NIA". The Economic Times. Archived from the original on 5 February 2016. Retrieved 19 January 2012.
  5. ^ "NIA chief inspired hit film 20 yrs ago". Hindusthan Times. Archived from the original on 17 April 2012.
  6. ^ Karthikeyan, D.R. (February 1998). "A crack investigative team". Frontline. Retrieved 20 August 2010.
  7. ^ "Founding NIA chief Radha Vinod Raju passes away". The Hindu. Retrieved 21 June 2012.
  8. ^ "Radha Vinod Raju: a rare security expert, fine professional (Tribute)". newstrackindia.com. Retrieved 21 June 2012.
  9. ^ "NIA founder RV Raju passes away". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 3 January 2013. Retrieved 21 June 2012.
  10. ^ "NIA founder DG R V Raju passes away". Zee News. 21 June 2012. Retrieved 21 June 2012.
  11. ^ "Central Vigilance Commission reconstitutes advisory board to check commercial frauds". The Economic Times. Retrieved 27 May 2012.
  12. ^ "Triumph of Truth: The Rajiv Gandhi Assassination: The Investigation by D.R. Kaarthikeyan, D. R. Kaarthikeyan". goodreads. Retrieved 1 April 2012.
  13. ^ "Sangam.org – Ilankai Tamil Sangam Association of Tamils of Sri Lanka in the USA". sangam. Retrieved 2 August 2004.
  14. ^ "Rajiv Gandhi Vadham Oru Kuttanweshanam By Radhavinod Raju (Author), Kaarthikeyen D R (Author)". junglee. Retrieved 21 June 2012.