Rashmi Shukla, a 1988 batch IPS officer, has made history by becoming the first woman to be appointed as the Director General of Police (DGP) of Maharashtra, the highest-ranking police officer in the state. She assumed office on January 5, 2024, and will retire on June 30, 2024. She was previously serving as the Director General of Sashastra Seema Bal, a paramilitary force under the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Shukla has a distinguished career spanning over three decades, during which she has served in various key positions, such as the Pune police commissioner, the director of the state intelligence wing, the Additional Director General of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), and the Mumbai Police Inspector. She was the second woman police commissioner of Mumbai, after Meera Borwankar.
Shukla is known for her professionalism, integrity, and courage. She has been involved in several high-profile cases and operations, such as the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, the 2010 Pune German Bakery blast, the 2013 Bodh Gaya serial blasts, and the 2016 Pathankot airbase attack. She has also received several awards and accolades, such as the President's Police Medal for Distinguished Service, the Police Medal for Meritorious Service, and the Antrik Suraksha Seva Padak.
However, Shukla has also faced some controversies and challenges in her career. She was accused of tapping the phones of some opposition leaders, such as Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut and NCP leader Eknath Khadse, in 2019, when she was the head of the state intelligence department. She was also alleged to have leaked a confidential report that exposed a nexus between some police officers and middlemen who offered transfers and postings for money. She denied any wrongdoing and claimed that she acted in the interest of national security and public service. The Bombay High Court quashed the two FIRs registered against her in October 2023.
Shukla's appointment as the DGP comes at a time when the state is facing several law and order issues, such as the rising cases of cybercrime, drug trafficking, and communal violence. She will also have to deal with the political pressure and interference from the ruling coalition of the BJP, the Shiv Sena, and the NCP. Shukla has said that she will work with honesty and dedication to ensure the safety and security of the people of Maharashtra.
Shukla is an inspiration for many women who aspire to join the police force and break the glass ceiling. She has proved that with hard work, determination, and courage, nothing is impossible. She is a role model for not only the women, but also the men, in the police force and the society at large.