Two former IPS officers, known for their daring policing styles, are gearing up for the Bihar Assembly polls scheduled for November 6 and 11, with results on November 14. The duo -- Shivdeep Lande and Anand Mishra -- have more than just their police backgrounds in common.
Both have been hailed as “singhams” by their colleagues -- a nickname borrowed from Bollywood’s iconic cop character. Lande earned that title during his service in Bihar, while Mishra was celebrated the same way in Assam.
Who is Shivdeep Lande, an independent candidate from Jamalpur?
Shivdeep Lande, 49, hails from a farming family in Akola, Maharashtra’s Vidarbha region. An electrical engineering graduate and 2006-batch IPS officer, he once served as SP in Patna, DIG in Tirhut, and IG in Purnia. His popularity surged in Patna when, as SP, he led crackdowns on eve-teasing and street crime.
He stepped down from service on September 19 last year while serving as Inspector-General in Purnia and, by March this year, had floated his own outfit -- the Hindu Sena -- to contest from Jamalpur in Munger as an independent. “I want to bring discipline and integrity from the police force into public life,” he had said while announcing his entry into politics. He had also reportedly said that he considered Bihar his 'karmbhoomi' despite having roots in Maharashtra.
Lande’s affidavit reveals he has assets worth Rs 20.74 lakh and no criminal record. His wife, Mamta Shivtare Lande -- daughter of former Maharashtra minister Vijay Shivtare -- is a successful entrepreneur with declared assets of Rs 20.5 crore. Her possessions include two SUVs (a Land Cruiser worth Rs 60 lakh and a Scorpio priced at Rs 29 lakh), 100 grams of gold, shares in several banks, and properties in Mumbai’s Marine Lines and Pune. She also owns 17 acres of land and carries loans of Rs 2.7 crore, including Rs 70 lakh for a car and Rs 2.5 crore for housing. Their daughter, Arha, holds assets worth Rs 14.8 lakh.
Who is BJP candidate from Buxar Anand Mishra?
On the other hand, Anand Mishra, 44, comes from Jigna in Buxar, though his roots trace back to Bhojpur. His father, Paramhans Mishra, was an employee at Hindustan Motors in Kolkata. Educated at St Xavier’s College, Kolkata, with a degree in Political Science, he later pursued a Master’s in Police Management from Osmania University in Hyderabad.
An officer from the Assam cadre, Mishra gained fame for his anti-drug operations and encounters against criminal syndicates in Nagaon district. His bravery earned him the President’s Medal for Gallantry, the Chief Minister’s Award for Exceptional Service, and the Union Home Ministry’s Internal Security Service Medal.
Mishra’s political journey began after he resigned from service in January last year. He contested the Lok Sabha election from Bihar as an independent when he failed to secure a BJP ticket. Though he managed 47,000 votes, the seat went to RJD’s Sudhakar Singh, who secured over 4.38 lakh votes.
Following his defeat, Mishra briefly joined Prashant Kishore’s Jan Suraaj initiative before parting ways in May and officially joining the BJP in August. A self-professed Royal Enfield enthusiast, he is now the BJP candidate from Buxar.
His affidavit lists total assets worth Rs 2.5 crore -- including movable assets of Rs 60 lakh, 100 grams of gold, and a Royal Enfield motorcycle valued at Rs 2.51 lakh. He also owns a Rs 60 lakh house in Hooghly, West Bengal. His wife, Archana Tiwari, declared movable assets of Rs 88.4 lakh and immovable ones worth Rs 17 lakh. Mishra’s annual income for 2024–25 is estimated at Rs 1.85 lakh, while Archana’s is projected to be above Rs 12 lakh.
Unlike Lande, however, Mishra does face a pending case -- lodged at Patna’s Gandhi Maidan Police Station -- linked to his participation in the Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) student protest.
Discover the latest Business News, Sensex, and Nifty updates. Obtain Personal Finance insights, tax queries, and expert opinions on Moneycontrol or download the Moneycontrol App to stay updated!
