In a historic move, Senior Indian Police Service (IPS) officer Rashmi Shukla assumed the position of Maharashtra Director General of Police (DGP) on Tuesday, marking her as the first woman to hold this esteemed position. The 59-year-old IPS officer from the 1988 batch is set to serve a six-month tenure in the post before her retirement in June 2024.
Taking over from Mumbai Police Commissioner Vivek Phansalkar, who held the additional charge of DGP after Rajnish Sheth’s retirement, Shukla officially assumed command. The state government announced her selection for the top police post from the three names recommended by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) empanelment committee—Rashmi Shukla, Mumbai Police Commissioner Vivek Phansalkar, and Police Housing Corporation Chief Sandeep Bishnoi.
Addressing the media after taking charge, Shukla emphasized the historically good law and order situation in Maharashtra. She outlined her priorities, focusing on key issues such as women’s safety, cybercrimes, narcotics, and reducing fatalities in road crashes across the state. Shukla pledged to ensure fairness and justice for all during her tenure.
Despite initial questions raised by the UPSC about Shukla’s nomination, her name was cleared in the meeting last Friday. Sources in the state bureaucracy revealed that former DGP Rajnish Seth’s appointment as the chairman of the Maharashtra Public Service Commission in October 2023 paved the way for Shukla’s appointment as the DGP.
Shukla brings a wealth of experience to the role, having served in various capacities, including Pune Police Commissioner, Additional DG (Traffic), Inspector General (Law and Order), DIG (Administration), SP in Nagpur, and DCP in Solapur. Her tenure as the State Intelligence Department (SID) commissioner in 2021 was marked by controversy, as the department allegedly tapped the telephones of top political leaders.
Shukla faced three criminal cases related to snooping on political leaders, prompting her to opt for a central deputation. She later served as an Additional DG of CRPF in Hyderabad before becoming the Director General of Sashastra
Sena Bal.