Mukund Krishna, the former chief executive of the Police Federation of England and Wales, has expressed confidence that he will be "entirely exonerated" from allegations of financial wrongdoing. Krishna, who was arrested in March on suspicion of corruption, had his contract terminated on Sunday. In his first statement since the arrest, he vigorously denied the claims and stated that he acted with integrity at all times.
Background of the Case
The allegations against Krishna relate to governance and financial decision-making within the federation, which represents 145,000 police officers. The City of London Police arrested Krishna at his home in Surrey as part of an investigation into alleged fraud. Two other former senior federation officials, a 51-year-old man from Wales and a 55-year-old man from Bristol, were also arrested on suspicion of fraud by abuse of position. All three have been bailed while the investigation continues.
Krishna's Defense
In his statement, Krishna highlighted his achievements during his tenure. He said he worked tirelessly on behalf of officers and secured a 16% pay rise over three years for frontline officers. He also recovered more than £150 million in compensation for members and reduced litigation liabilities from over £110 million to less than £40 million. "I am proud of that record and the difference it made to the lives of serving police officers across England and Wales," he added.
Federation's Response
A spokesperson for the Police Federation confirmed that Krishna's employment ended on 31 May 2026. His basic salary, without bonus, was paid up to that point, and he will not receive any further payments. The federation will begin a process to appoint a permanent chief executive in due course. Krishna's remuneration package was worth £701,100 a year for both 2024 and 2025, including a basic salary of £342,000, a retention bonus worth up to 100% of that salary, and pension contributions.
Unconnected Suspensions
In separate matters, Rick Prior, former chair of the Metropolitan police federation, was suspended in October 2024 after warning that members were increasingly nervous about challenging people from some ethnic minorities for fear of being labelled racist. Richard Cooke was removed as chair of the West Midlands police federation in December 2024 after posting a comment online disputing suggestions his force was "institutionally racist."
Krishna, a 46-year-old former management consultant, remains confident that the investigation will clear him. The police have described the case as extremely complex.
