Gandhinagar: A senior Gujarat cadre Indian Police Service officer, Manoj Ninama, has resigned from service just weeks before his scheduled retirement, bringing an end to a police career spanning more than four decades.
The Gujarat government has accepted the resignation of the DIG-rank officer, whose retirement was officially due on May 31, 2026.
His decision has drawn attention not only because of the timing — barely a month before retirement — but also because of his remarks indicating openness to entering politics if approached by any political party.
Resignation Accepted by Gujarat Government
Sources in Gujarat confirmed that Ninama’s resignation has been formally accepted.
When asked about his decision, he said family responsibilities were the primary reason behind stepping down before retirement.
However, he also stated that if any political party approaches him, he would consider entering public life through politics.
This has triggered speculation in administrative and political circles because of his close association with P. C. Baranda, who earlier resigned from the IPS and later joined Bharatiya Janata Party.
Native of Aravalli, Served 42 Years in Police Department
Manoj Ninama belongs to Aravalli district in north Gujarat.
His total police service extended to approximately 42 years, making him one of the senior-most officers in the Gujarat police establishment before his resignation.
Unlike direct UPSC recruits, Ninama entered policing through the state police system and later rose to the Indian Police Service through promotion.
Promoted IPS Officer, Not Direct UPSC Recruit
Manoj Ninama is known as a promoted IPS officer, also referred to as a conferred IPS officer.
This means he did not join the IPS through the Union Public Service Commission Civil Services Examination.
Instead, he began his career in the Gujarat State Police Service and was later elevated to IPS rank based on service record and seniority.
He is officially associated with the 2006 IPS batch, though his promotion to IPS was granted in 2007.
Career Began as Deputy Superintendent of Police
Before entering the IPS, Ninama served as a Deputy Superintendent of Police in the Gujarat police service.
One of his notable early postings was in Bhuj, where he served as DySP in 2001.
This phase of his career later became significant because of a legal case connected to that posting.
Promotion Journey Through Senior Police Ranks
Over the years, Ninama rose through multiple senior positions:
- Deputy Superintendent of Police (DySP)
- Superintendent of Police (SP)
- Deputy Inspector General (DIG)
- Inspector General of Police (IGP)
He was promoted to the IGP grade in April 2024, one of the last major milestones of his career before resignation.
Important Postings During Career
During his long tenure, he held several key administrative and operational posts in Gujarat.
Superintendent of Central Jail
He served as Superintendent of Lajpore Central Jail in Surat, overseeing prison administration.
SRPF Leadership
He also served in Group 2 of the State Reserve Police Force in Vadodara.
Intelligence Posting
At one stage, he was posted with the Intelligence Bureau in Ahmedabad, where he handled intelligence-related responsibilities.
Legal Controversy During Career
One of the major controversies associated with Ninama’s career emerged from a custodial torture case linked to his Bhuj posting.
In 2018, a magistrate court in Bhuj sentenced him to one year of imprisonment in connection with a 17-year-old custodial torture case dating back to 2001.
The case related to allegations from the period when he was serving as Deputy Superintendent of Police.
The matter had drawn considerable attention at the time because it involved a serving IPS officer facing conviction in an old custodial case.
Political Possibility After Retirement?
Following his resignation, attention has shifted to whether Ninama may enter politics.
His statement that he would consider politics if approached by a political party has intensified speculation.
Observers note that his close association with P. C. Baranda may influence future developments.
However, no formal political move has yet been announced.
Why His Resignation Matters
Resignations by senior officers shortly before retirement are relatively uncommon.
In Ninama’s case, the decision is especially notable because:
- he resigned just one month before superannuation
- he had recently received IGP-grade promotion
- he openly acknowledged possible political interest
This combination has made his exit one of the more discussed bureaucratic developments in Gujarat administrative circles.
