Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): Special Director General of Police, rail, Manish Shankar Sharma, died following a brief illness, family sources said on Monday. He was 59.

His father Kripa Shankar Sharma had served as the chief secretary of Madhya Pradesh. Sharma, the 1992-batch IPS officer of Madhya Pradesh cadre, had gone to Delhi for a routine check-up where he died late Sunday night following a cardiac arrest, sources said.

Sharma had served in various capacities in United Nations, at the Centre and in Madhya Pradesh.

Manish Shankar Sharma had obtained Master’s degree in international affairs and public policy from the University of California, specialising in international security and counter-terrorism.

He had a diverse experience of 25 years with the government, having served across four continents, the sources said. He had been conferred with a distinction by the Mayor of San Diego, USA, who issued an official proclamation declaring July 20, 2015, as ‘Manish S Sharma Day’ to honour his contribution to strengthening US-India relationship, sources said. He is survived by his wife and two sons. Police officials including DGP Kailash Makwana expressed condolences.