When Rashmi Shukla took charge as the Director General of Police (DGP) of Maharashtra, history was made quietly yet decisively. A 1988-batch IPS officer, she became the first woman to head the Maharashtra Police, one of India’s largest and most complex law-enforcement organisations. Her appointment marked not just a personal milestone, but a symbolic shift in a service long dominated by men.
With her tenure set to continue until 31 December 2025, Shukla stands at the centre of high expectations and close scrutiny, carrying decades of experience, credibility, and controversy into the state’s top policing role.
EARLY LIFE AND ENTRY INTO THE IPS
Born on 30 June 1964 (with some official records mentioning 15 August 1965), Rashmi Shukla hails from Mumbai, Maharashtra. She joined the Indian Police Service in 1988, entering a profession defined by high pressure, public accountability, and constant operational challenges.
Over the years, she rose steadily through the ranks, earning a reputation as a firm, decisive, and disciplined officer. Her personal life remained closely intertwined with the service. Her husband, Uday Shukla, was also an IPS officer. His death in 2018 was a profound personal loss, yet Shukla continued her professional journey with resolve and focus.
KEY ROLES IN MAHARASHTRA POLICE
Rashmi Shukla’s career in Maharashtra included several influential postings. As Commissioner of Police, Pune, she became widely recognised for her outreach and administrative initiatives. Among her most notable contributions was the ‘Buddy Cop’ programme, a community policing initiative aimed at building trust between police personnel and citizens. The model proved effective and was later replicated across the state.
She also served as the head of the State Intelligence Department (SID) during the BJP–Shiv Sena government led by Devendra Fadnavis (2014–2019). This position placed her at the heart of intelligence gathering and internal security, making her one of the most powerful officers in the state police hierarchy.
EXPERIENCE AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL
Beyond Maharashtra, Shukla gained significant exposure at the national level. In 2021, she was appointed Additional Director General of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), where she handled key internal security responsibilities.
In March 2023, she took charge as Director General of the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), the force responsible for guarding India’s borders with Nepal and Bhutan. Leading a central armed police force further strengthened her credentials in managing large personnel bases and sensitive security operations. This combination of state and central experience later emerged as a key factor in her appointment as Maharashtra’s police chief.
CONTROVERSIES AND LEGAL BATTLES
Shukla’s career has also seen intense controversy. In 2022, allegations of illegal phone tapping involving several political leaders surfaced, linked to her tenure as SID chief in 2019. Three FIRs were registered against her in Mumbai and Pune during the Maha Vikas Aghadi government’s tenure.
She was also accused of leaking a confidential intelligence report allegedly exposing a nexus between police officers and middlemen involved in transfer and posting irregularities. Shukla consistently denied the allegations, maintaining that her actions were guided by national security and public interest.
In a significant legal development, the Bombay High Court quashed two FIRs, while the third case was transferred to the CBI, which later filed a closure report. These clearances paved the way for her return to top policing roles.
BECOMING MAHARASHTRA’S FIRST WOMAN DGP
In January 2024, Rashmi Shukla was appointed Director General of Police, Maharashtra, replacing Rajnish Seth, who retired and later became Chairman of the Maharashtra Public Service Commission. At the time, she was the senior-most IPS officer in the state, a fact publicly highlighted by Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
Her appointment was briefly interrupted during the Maharashtra Assembly elections, when the Election Commission ordered her transfer following opposition allegations of bias. After the Model Code of Conduct ended, the state government reinstated her, and she resumed her duties as DGP.
LEADERSHIP STYLE AND POLICING VISION
Within the force, Rashmi Shukla is widely regarded as a tough but fair leader. Colleagues describe her as an officer who understands the “pulse of Maharashtra” and believes in disciplined, citizen-centric policing.
As DGP, her priorities include counter-terrorism, cybercrime control, operational discipline, and strengthening public trust. Her experience in the CRPF and SSB is expected to bring enhanced professionalism and operational efficiency to the Maharashtra Police.
HONOURS AND RECOGNITION
Over the years, Shukla has received multiple honours, including the President’s Police Medal in 2004, 2005, and 2013, recognising her consistent and meritorious service across both state and central policing assignments.
A HISTORIC TENURE AHEAD
With her tenure extending until 31 December 2025, Rashmi Shukla leads Maharashtra Police at a crucial juncture. As the first woman IPS officer to head the force, she carries the responsibility of setting new benchmarks, navigating political sensitivities, and strengthening public confidence in policing.
Her journey reflects resilience, experience, and the gradual breaking of barriers in Indian law enforcement. Whether remembered for her firmness, her reforms, or her historic first, Rashmi Shukla’s tenure as Maharashtra’s police chief is already a defining chapter in the state’s administrative history.
