K. Vijay Kumar is a retired Indian Police Service (IPS) officer from the 1975 Tamil Nadu cadre, widely recognized for leading the operation that resulted in the death of forest brigand Veerappan in 2004. His distinguished service spans over three decades, during which he held several high-profile positions including Director General of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Commissioner of Police, Chennai, and Inspector General of the Border Security Force (BSF) in Kashmir during a critical phase of insurgency.

He holds a law degree from the University of Madras, an MBA from IGNOU, and a Master’s in Business Law from the National Law School of India University. Earlier in his career, he served in the Special Protection Group (SPG), providing close protection to Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, and later helped form the Special Security Group (SSG) for the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu.

After his retirement, he continued to serve the country as Senior Security Adviser to the Ministry of Home Affairs, focusing on Left Wing Extremism. He was also appointed as Advisor to the Governor of Jammu and Kashmir in 2018, overseeing critical portfolios. Among his honors are the President’s Police Medal for Gallantry and other commendations for distinguished service. He is the author of Veerappan: Chasing the Brigand, a detailed account of one of India’s most significant police operations.