Rashmi Shukla is a 1988 batch Indian IPS officer of the Maharashtra cadre. She was in news in August 2022 when she was blamed for tapping the phones of some political leaders in Maharashtra. As a woman police officer, she is known for her work for the safety and betterment of women in the state.
Wiki/Biography
Rashmi Shukla was born on Sunday, 15 August 1965 (age 57 years; as of 2022) in Mumbai, Maharashtra.
Physical Appearance
Height (approx.): 5′ 8″
Weight (approx.): 65 kg
Hair Colour: Salt and Pepper
Eye Colour: Black
Family
Husband & Children
Her husband’s name is Uday Shukla. He was an IPS officer and was posted as RPF Chief Security Commissioner-cum-IG with the Western Railways in Mumbai till 2018. He passed away in 2018 after suffering cardiac arrest. He was 58 years old and was suffering from cancer.
Rashmi Shukla’s husband Uday Shukla
Career
During the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance government led by Devendra Fadnavis, Rashmi Shukla served from 2014 to 2019 in various positions in Maharashtra police such as the Commissioner of Police in Pune and the Commissioner of State Intelligence Department (SID). While serving as the Police commissioner of Mumbai in 2016, she became the second woman to hold this position. She was elevated to the post of ADG at the Government of India in 2021.
Rashmi Shukla while taking a new charge in Mumbai
Rashmi Shukla was appointed as the additional director general of the Central Reserve Police Force in Hyderabad in October 2022. During the same month, she came into the limelight when it was announced by the Maharashtra BJP government that she would be appointed to the post of DGP by the central government in Maharashtra.
Controversies
Phone Tapping Cases
- In March 2021, she was blamed for tapping the phone of Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh, who was involved in transfer-posting cases. Parambir Singh, the former Mumbai Police Commissioner, penned a note to the then Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and accused Anil Deshmukh of extortion. However, later, Rashmi was removed from her post instead of taking action against Deshmukh.
- In March 2022, another phone-tapping case was filed against her at the Colaba police station. She was accused of tapping the phone calls of state Congress chief Nana Patole, NCP leader Eknath Khadse, and Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut. The incident occurred during the Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress government in Maharashtra. The FIR asserted,
The SID (state intelligence department) in their application seeking permission had provided the numbers of the duo with their names changed and claimed that they were involved in anti-social activities.”
However, soon after the Maharashtra government was taken over by Eknath Shinde, she was evicted from the case, and the police stated in the closure report that there was no evidence against her. Nana Patole mentioned in his complaint,
It was tapped on the pretext that it belonged to one Amjad Khan involved in narcotics smuggling.”
Rashmi Shukla while in police protection
- In March 2022, her advocate, Sameer Nangre, proved in the courtroom that the FIR was filed against her only to harass her. The case was registered against her under Section 165 (public servant obtaining any valuable thing, without consideration, from a person concerned in any proceeding or business transacted by such public servant) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Section 26 of the Telegraph Act.
Awards, Honours, Achievements
In 2004, Rashmi Shukla earned the DGP’s Insignia. In the following year, she was felicitated with the President’s Police Medal for Meritorious Service. In 2008, during the terror attacks in Mumbai, she was serving as a coordinator with the Maharashtra Government, and her outstanding performance during the tough times earned her many appreciation awards. In 2013, Rashmi Shukla was honoured with the President’s Police Medal for Distinguished Service.
Rashmi Shukla while receiving an award for her excellence
Facts/Trivia
- Rashmi Shukla actively works for the welfare and security of women in Maharashtra. Once, in a media conversation, she stated that it was our mind that differentiate between a man and a woman. She said,
Women are at the forefront of their careers. They have stormed all-male bastions and have reached greater heights in a male-dominated society. Why do they think of gender bias and inequality? I have not faced any gender bias and inequality in my career at all.”
Rashmi Shukla during a press meet