P. K. Hormis Tharakan, an Indian Police Service (IPS) officer of the Kerala cadre (1968 batch), was chief of the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW), India's external intelligence agency, from February 1, 2005 to January 31, 2007. He is the former Director General of the Kerala Police. Tharakan succeeded C. D. Sahay - a 1967 batch officer of the IPS's Karnataka cadre - on January 31, 2005. Tharakan comes from the Parayil family in Olavipe, Kerala .