Before the viral videos, the headlines and the public praise, a 2022 batch IPS officer of MP cadre, Ms Anu Beniwal had already built a reputation through work that rarely made it to social media. From shutting down illegal sand mining in her jurisdiction and ensuring communal peace in a sensitive district to transforming a police station into an ISO-certified model station, her career has been defined by action rather than publicity.
Even today, as she continues field duty during the eighth month of her pregnancy, she believes that public service comes before personal comfort.
In a candid conversation with Indian Masterminds, IPS Beniwal spoke about her remarkable UPSC journey, tackling the mining mafia, the viral traffic-check incident that made her a household name, and the message she has for the next generation of civil servants.
The Viral Moment That Reflected Her Policing Style
A routine traffic checking drive in Gwalior recently catapulted IPS officer Anu Beniwal into the national spotlight.
During the enforcement drive, her team stopped a vehicle that had no registration number plate and was fitted with dark window films beyond the legal limit. Instead of accepting the violation, the driver allegedly tried to use political connections to avoid a fine.
IPS Beniwal’s response was calm but uncompromising.
“Even if your uncle is the President, the challan will be issued,” she told the driver before proceeding with legal action.
The video spread rapidly across social media, earning widespread appreciation for reinforcing a simple yet powerful message – that the rule of law applies equally to everyone.
Interestingly, Beniwal herself does not consider the incident extraordinary.
“Sometimes, a video gets highlighted. Otherwise, we do so many things that people don’t even know about,” she told Indian Masterminds with characteristic humility.
More Than a Viral Officer
For Beniwal, the viral video is only one small chapter in a much larger journey.
A 2022-batch IPS officer of the Madhya Pradesh cadre, she began her policing career as a Station House Officer (SHO) during her probation in Gwalior’s Bijoli police station, an area notorious for illegal sand mining.
Rather than treating probation as a learning period alone, she decided to leave a lasting impact.
“There was extensive illegal mining in my police station area. I adopted a zero-tolerance policy and completely shut it down in my jurisdiction,” she recalled.
Alongside anti-mining operations, she transformed the police station into a Model Police Station and earned ISO certification within just three months, an achievement widely appreciated during her probation.
How She Took on Illegal Sand Mining
Illegal sand mining remains one of the biggest challenges for law enforcement in several parts of Madhya Pradesh.
Beniwal says she entered the assignment fully prepared for resistance.
“I had made up my mind that I would not tolerate illegal mining. I was mentally prepared even if frequent transfers followed. But not a single illegal vehicle would pass through my police station.”
Her crackdown resulted in the seizure of numerous vehicles involved in illegal transportation.
The penalties imposed ran into crores of rupees, generating significant revenue for the government.
“Some vehicles were fined so heavily that their owners never came back to claim them. Many are still lying in the police station because the losses became too high for them,” she said.
Why Illegal Mining Is Such a Difficult Problem
While many wonder why illegal sand mining continues despite repeated crackdowns, Beniwal believes the answer lies in the complex network behind it.
According to her, the issue cannot be solved by the police alone.
“Illegal mining involves multiple stakeholders. The police, mining department, district administration and RTO all have to work together. No single department can stop it on its own.”
She explained that while the mining department has legal authority, it often depends on police protection during enforcement.
“The mining department doesn’t have its own force. They need police support, while the administration and transport department also have important roles. Only coordinated action can make a lasting impact.”
She also pointed out that the judiciary has taken serious note of illegal mining in the Chambal region, leading to renewed enforcement efforts.
Maintaining Peace in a Sensitive District
After completing her SHO tenure, Beniwal served for nearly a year as SDOP in Dhar district, an area known for communal sensitivity.
She says maintaining peace became her biggest responsibility.
Fortunately, with a committed police force and timely intervention, her tenure remained free of communal disturbances.
“During my one-year posting, we ensured that every issue was handled on time. There wasn’t a single communal incident during that period,” she said.
She also launched several women-centric initiatives, including Urja Udaan and BDT, aimed at empowering women and improving outreach.
Later, she served as Additional SP, Gwalior, where she handled the city’s law-and-order responsibilities before her recent transfer.
Serving in Uniform, Even During Pregnancy
Perhaps one of the lesser-known aspects of Beniwal’s journey is that she continues to perform field duties while being eight months pregnant.
She speaks about it without seeking sympathy.
“Work is work. As long as I can perform my responsibilities, I will continue doing them. There is nothing unusual about it,” she said.
Her quiet determination reflects the same commitment that has defined her career from the beginning.
Her UPSC Journey: Four Attempts, One Dream
Long before becoming an IPS officer, she experienced years of uncertainty and disappointment. Born on April 26, 1992, in Delhi’s Pitampura, she grew up in a financially struggling family.
Her father, Sanjay Kumar, ran a small button manufacturing unit, but after a serious illness, the business collapsed. Her mother stitched clothes from home to support the family and fund her children’s education.
The struggles did not end there. During Anu’s UPSC preparation, both her parents battled serious health problems. Her father suffered from heart disease and hearing loss, while her mother underwent multiple surgeries due to neurological complications.
Yet education remained the family’s highest priority.
Her brother later graduated from IIT Delhi, reflecting the family’s unwavering faith in learning despite financial hardship.
IPS Beniwal’s UPSC journey was equally demanding.
Her first attempt in 2018 ended at the Preliminary Examination.
In her second attempt, she reached the Mains but failed to make the final list.
Her third attempt earned her All India Rank 638, but she was not satisfied with the service allotted.
Rather than settling, she appeared again in 2022 and secured AIR 217, finally earning selection into the Indian Police Service.
Reflecting on those years, she shared another personal milestone.
“My husband Ayush was my neighbour. We got engaged while I was preparing. Our marriage was fixed after my Mains examination.”
Her Advice to UPSC Aspirants
Having experienced both failure and success, Beniwal believes that preparation should be driven by genuine passion rather than external pressure.
“If the dream is truly yours, the journey becomes easier. But it requires tremendous hard work. For a few years, you have to disconnect from social media and many aspects of social life.”
She also cautions aspirants against blindly depending on coaching institutes.
“Don’t trust any particular coaching too much. Take test series or study material if required, but self-study, government websites, newspapers and standard textbooks are the real foundation.”
According to her, the biggest mistake aspirants make is collecting too many books.
“Read fewer standard books repeatedly instead of buying many. On the day of the examination, only what is in your mind will help you—not your notes or your bookshelf.”
A Journey Defined by Duty
For millions, IPS Anu Beniwal may always be remembered as the officer who firmly declared, “Even if your uncle is the President, the challan will be issued.”
But that viral sentence represents something much larger.
It reflects the values that have shaped her life—from growing up in a financially struggling household, overcoming repeated UPSC setbacks, and standing up to powerful mining mafias, to maintaining communal harmony and continuing field duty during pregnancy.
Behind the viral clip is an officer who believes that integrity is not an event captured on camera—it is a habit practised every day, whether or not anyone is watching.
