K Vijay Kumar, a former Director General of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), who headed the Tamil Nadu Police Special Task Force (STF) that killed Veerappan retired from service in 2012. Kumar, now based in Bengaluru and Chennai, is renowned for his expertise in jungle warfare and counter-insurgency, and he is being awarded for being a “key architect” of strategic policing and major operations against Naxals and Veerappan.

RVS Mani, former Under Secretary in the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, was also chosen for Padma Shri on the eve of Republic Day who is based in Delhi. RVS Mani, in his book, 'Hindu Terror: Insider account of Ministry of Home Affairs exposes the Hindu Terror narrative.