The government chose Vijay Sakhare for the Red Fort blast investigation due to his exceptional credentials in counter-terrorism and crime-solving. Sakhare, a 1996-batch Kerala cadre IPS officer, currently serves as Additional Director General of NIA after a rapid rise within the agency following his promotion in September 2025. He has proven expertise in dismantling complex terror networks, notably investigating Popular Front of India cases and handling multi-state terror modules in Kerala. Sakhare’s leadership in high-profile cases, such as communal killings and political murders, evidences his strategic and operational acumen.

He holds a master’s degree from Harvard University, equipping him with advanced policy, management, and analytical skills. Sakhare’s professional reputation is built on his ability to coordinate multi-agency investigations and drive exhaustive evidence-gathering—key requirements for the current probe, which spans three states and involves over 1,000 CCTV scans and digital forensics. The appointment reflects the government’s confidence in his experience, integrity, and effectiveness in handling sensitive national security cases at the highest level.