Mr. Sunil Pawar, Retd. ACP, Pune City Crime Branch
Mr. Sunil Pawar, a retired Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) from Pune City Crime Branch, is a distinguished officer with an illustrious career spanning 34 years in law enforcement. Born into a farming family, he holds a degree in agriculture but chose to dedicate his life to policing.
A 1989 batch direct Police Sub-Inspector (PSI), Mr. Pawar served across various districts, including Pune Rural, Sangli, Solapur Rural, and Kolhapur,
between 1990 and 2006 as a PSI and Assistant Police Inspector (API). In 2007, he was transferred to Pune City from Sangli, and within six months, he was promoted to Police Inspector in January 2008. He served in the Crime Branch until June 2017 before being transferred to Ahmednagar and later to Chakan Police Station in Pimpri-Chinchwad Commissionerate. In 2019, he was promoted to Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP). After serving in Buldhana District for a year, he was transferred back to Pune City, where he retired in July 2023 as ACP of the Crime Branch, Pune City. Pioneering Work in Cyber Crime & Mobile Technology During his 34 years of service, Mr. Pawar spent 17 years in rural policing, heading multiple police stations. His transition to Pune City in 2007 was a turning point in his career. Until then, mobile technology had not penetrated rural policing, and he had never encountered Call Data Records (CDR) for crime detection. However, recognizing the growing importance of digital forensics in crime investigation, he took the initiative to learn the nuances of CDR analysis and mobile technology. With no formal guidance available, he reached out to nodal officers of telecom companies, interacted with software engineers, and applied his own investigative logic to extract intelligence from raw CDR data. His dedication led him to develop an in-house CDR analysis software, which played a crucial role in solving several high-profile criminal cases. Exceptional Achievements & Recognitions
Throughout his career, Mr. Pawar has:
Solved over 3,000 property-related crimes (including chain snatching, dacoities, house break-ings, vehicle thefts, bank robberies, Bag liftings etc.), recovering ₹50crore worth of stolen property. Received 920 rewards, including cash incentives totalling ₹6 lakh, for outstanding crime detection. Honoured six times as the “Best Investigation Officer of Maharashtra” for his exemplary work in crime and cybercrime investigations by DGP Maharashtra. Awarded the DGP Maharashtra Insignia for exceptional contribution in solving critical cases. Served as a key member in 10 Special Investigation Teams (SITs),
investigating high-profile cases such as:
∙JM Road bomb blast, Pune
Dive Agar (Raigad) Golden Ganesh idol theft and double murder∙German Bakery bomb blast, Pune
∙Faraskhana bomb blast, Pune
∙Nayana Pujari rape and murder case Pune.
∙Lonavala students' double murder case Pune R.
∙Dr. Narendra Dabholkar murder case Pune.
∙Comrade Govind Pansare murder case Kolhapur.
∙Double murder of Shiv Sena members in Ahmednagar
∙PITA case of Nandurbar (Supreme Court-mandated investigation)
Cyber Crime & Knowledge Sharing Initiatives:
Mr. Pawar served as in-charge of Cyber Police Stations in Pune and Ahmednagar for three years. His expertise led to the detection of the Bank of Maharashtra UPI fraud case, where he arrested 11 accused and recovered ₹6.5 crore, making him a finalist for the prestigious "India Cyber Cop" Award in 2017. Recognizing the importance of knowledge sharing, he began training police officers in cybercrime investigation and CDR analysis in 2010. His commitment
to continuous learning and education led to:
Regular faculty roles at Maharashtra Police Academy (MPA) Nasik, CPR Pune, MIA Pune, and RPTS Khandala.
Creation of a dedicated Facebook group, "SUPERCOPS," during the COVID- 19 pandemic, where he uploaded 73 video lectures covering live practical training in CDR analysis, mobile forensics, cyber laws, and case studies. Today, the group has 5,000+ police officers benefiting from his teachings.
Post-Retirement Contributions & Publications-Post-retirement, Mr. Pawar continues his mission to empower law enforcement. He is the Director of CYECOPS LLP, a firm specializing in cybersecurity, cybercrime investigation, and law enforcement training. In collaboration with Yashwantrao Chavan Open University (Nasik), he has launched four specialized courses in cybercrime investigation:
1.Diploma in Cyber Crime Investigation (1-year online course)
2.Certificate in Cyber Laws (3-month online course)
3.Certificate in CDR Analysis (5-day offline course with hands-on training)
4.Certificate in Cyber & Mobile Forensics (5-day online course with
practical exposure to forensic tools)
To further educate and guide police officers, he has authored three books in Marathi, covering:
📖 Cyber Crime Basics.
📖 Cyber Crime Investigation – Part 1
📖 Cyber Crime Investigation – Part 2
These books provide a comprehensive understanding of cybercrime, detection techniques, legal aspects, convicted case studies, and important judgments, making them invaluable resources for law enforcement professionals. A Legacy of Dedication & Innovation Mr. Sunil Pawar’s remarkable career is a testament to his unwavering commitment to crime investigation, cyber forensics, and police training. His contributions have transformed the way cyber and mobile technology are utilized in policing, and his efforts continue to shape the next generation of investigators in Maharashtra Police. His expertise, hands-on experience, and dedication to sharing knowledge make him a true pioneer in modern crime detection and cyber investigations.