Criminal Investigation Department (India)


A Criminal Investigation Department is a branch of the State Police Services of India responsible for the investigation of crime, based on the Criminal Investigation Departments of British police forces.

Formation and organization

The first CID was created by the British Government in 1902, based on the recommendations of the Police Commission. At the entrance of the CID office at Gokhale Marg, Lucknow, there is a portrait of Rai Bahadur Pandit Shambhu Nath, King's Police Medalist and Member of British Empire with a caption "Father of Indian CID". In 1929, the CID was split into Special Branch, CID and the Crime Branch.

CID branches

A CID may have several branches from state to state. These branches include:
CB-CID is a special wing in a CID headed by the Additional Director General of Police and assisted by the Inspector General of Police. This branch investigates serious crimes including murder, riot, forgery, counterfeiting and cases entrusted to CB-CID by the state government or the High Court.