Sivanandan, a 1976-batch IPS officer, pipped Director General of Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) and former Mumbai police Commissioner Hasan Gafoor, considered the front-runner for the top job, to the post.
Gafoor is an officer of 1974 batch of the IPS and was Mumbai police Commissioner during the 26/11 terror attacks.
Home department sources said that Additional Director General (Special Operations) Sanjeev Dayal has been appointed city police commissioner in place of Sivanandan.
Image: Newly appointed Maharashtra police chief D Sivanandan (left) greets new Mumbai police commissioner Sanjeev Dayal (right) in Mumbai on Monday
Photograph: Sahil Salvi