He opted for the Indian Police Service (IPS) and was allotted his home cadre of Andhra Pradesh.

As the police chief of a district with Naxalite–Maoist insurgency, he planned and participated in multiple combing operations.

During this tenure, he attended International conference on Crime Investigation & Human Rights in South Africa.

[10] Anand was subsequently transferred to Hyderabad as the Deputy commissioner of police (DCP), East zone.

After promotion to the rank of Deputy inspector general of police (DIG), he took over the Economic offences wing (EOW) of the CID.

He is also credited with many innovations, like e-challans which simplified issuance and collection of fines, introduction of speed guns and hand-held cameras for all traffic cops and adoption of social media to convey traffic-related updates.

The Cyberabad commissionerate had a high density of land dispute cases, due to the real-estate boom in the Greater Hyderabad Area.

With the growth of the Software industry in Telangana, he introduced measures for women safety in the IT corridor with the SHE app, SHE teams and SHE shuttles.

During his tenure as Cyberabad police commissioner, he was awarded the National Award for Best Poll Practices by the Election Commission of India for election-related measures in expenditure monitoring and tackling money power during the 2014 Indian general election.

[22][23] After a three-year tenure, Anand was appointed Commissioner, of Consumer affairs, Food & civil supplies.

In response to Anand's appointment, the IAS Officers' Association registered their protest with the Chief Minister of Telangana.

The Special Operation Team (SOT) of Cyberabad Police, when he was Commissioner, had unearthed a major scam in the Civil supplies department.

[25] In early 2018, Anand was deputed to the Government of India for five years and was appointed Inspector General Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), a Central Armed Police Force responsible for providing security to large installations and institutions.

During this tenure, he also held additional charge as IG South Sector, headquartered at Chennai for 9 months.

After a two-and-a-half year stint, in August 2020, he was appointed Director of the National Industrial Security Academy (NISA).

[38] The Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC) housing the new police commissionerate was inaugurated during his tenure as CP.

After a two-year tenure as CP, in December 2023, Anand relinquished charge and was appointed Director General, Anti-Corruption Bureau.

[46][47][48] During a press conference on December 22, 2024, CV Anand criticized national media outlets, accusing them of being "bought over" and lacking integrity.

These comments were made in response to persistent questions about the ongoing investigation into a stampede at Sandhya Theatre during the premiere of "Pushpa 2: The Rule," which resulted in a woman's death and her child's injury.