Meeran Borwankar (born in 1957, Age: 66 years old) is a name that commands respect and admiration in the Indian police service. She is the first woman IPS officer of the Maharashtra cadre, the first woman to head the Mumbai crime branch, and the first woman to become the Pune police commissioner. She has also served as the director general of the Bureau of Police Research and Development and the National Crime Records Bureau. She retired in 2017 after 36 years of distinguished service, leaving behind a legacy of courage, integrity, and excellence.
Early Life and Education
Meeran was born in 1957 in South West Delhi. She belongs to a Punjabi family that migrated from Pakistan during the partition. Her father was a civil engineer and her mother was a homemaker. She has two sisters and a brother.
She completed her schooling at a local high school and then pursued her graduation in English literature from Guru Nanak Dev University in Punjab. She was a bright student and a voracious reader. She developed an interest in law and decided to pursue a bachelor of law degree from Savitribai Phule Pune University. She also obtained a doctorate in organizational management from the same university.
Meeran Borwankar Wiki/Bio
| Name | Meeran Chadha Borwankar |
| Born | 1957 |
| Birthplace | South West Delhi |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Occupation | Retired IPS officer, writer, speaker |
| Years of service | 1981-2017 |
| Rank | Director General of Police |
| Books | Leaves of Life, Madam Commissioner |
| Website | mcborwankar.com |
| meeranchadha | |
| mcborwankar | |
| Homepage | newsunzip.com |
Career and Achievements
Borwankar joined the Indian Police Service in 1981 as a part of the Maharashtra cadre. She was the only woman in her batch of 80 officers. She faced many challenges and prejudices in a male-dominated profession, but she never gave up or compromised her values. She proved herself as a competent and fearless officer who could handle any situation with ease and confidence.
She started her career as the superintendent of police of Aurangabad and Satara districts, where she dealt with various law and order issues, including communal riots, naxalism, and organized crime. She also worked as the deputy commissioner of police of Mumbai, where she handled the traffic and crime portfolios. She was instrumental in cracking several high-profile cases, such as the 1993 serial blasts, the Telgi fake stamp paper scam, and the Pramod Mahajan murder case.
Rise to Fame
She rose to the rank of joint commissioner of police of Mumbai and became the first woman to head the Mumbai crime branch in 2008. She led several successful operations against the underworld, such as the encounter of gangster Chhota Rajan’s aide Farid Tanasha and the arrest of fugitive don Dawood Ibrahim’s brother Iqbal Kaskar. She also supervised the investigation of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks and ensured the speedy trial and conviction of the lone surviving terrorist Ajmal Kasab.
She was appointed as the Pune police commissioner in 2010, becoming the first woman to hold the post. She transformed the Pune police into a modern and efficient force, introducing several initiatives such as the citizen facilitation center, the women’s grievance redressal cell, the cybercrime cell, and the traffic management system.
Rank & Other Posts
She also faced a lot of political pressure and interference, especially in the controversial case of the auction of a prime police land in Yerawada. She revealed the details of this incident in her book ‘Madam Commissioner’, which was published in 2023.
She was promoted to the rank of additional director general of police in 2012 and took charge of the prisons department of Maharashtra. She brought about several reforms in the prison administration, such as improving the living conditions of the inmates, providing them with vocational training and education, and facilitating their rehabilitation and reintegration into society. She also handled the execution of Ajmal Kasab and Yakub Memon, the convicts of the 26/11 and 1993 bomb blasts respectively.
She was transferred to the central government in 2015 and became the director general of the Bureau of Police Research and Development, a think tank and advisory body for the police forces in India. She also headed the National Crime Records Bureau, a repository of crime and criminal data in the country. She retired from service in 2017, after completing 36 years of exemplary service.
Retirement
She retired from the police service in 2017, after 36 years of a distinguished and exemplary career. She received several awards and accolades for her outstanding service, such as the President’s Police Medal for Distinguished Service, the Police Medal for Meritorious Service, the Director General’s Insignia, and the Indian Police Service Association Award. She also received the Nari Shakti Puraskar, the highest civilian honor for women in India, from the President of India in 2016.
Nationality
Meeran Borwankar is an Indian citizen. She was born in South West Delhi and belongs to a Punjabi family that migrated from Pakistan during the partition.
Parents and Siblings
Meeran Borwankar’s father was a civil engineer and her mother was a homemaker. She has two sisters and a brother.
Books
Meeran Borwankar is also a passionate writer and a speaker, who shares her experiences and insights with the public through her books, articles, and lectures. She has written two books, ‘Leaves of Life’ and ‘Madam Commissioner’, which are autobiographical and motivational. She is also the co-founder of Indus Dictum, an online platform that publishes articles on various topics of public interest.
Personal Life, Spouse & Kids
Meeran Borwankar is married to Sanjay Borwankar, a civil engineer and a businessman. They have two children, a son and a daughter. Her son is a software engineer and her daughter is a lawyer. She is a devoted mother and a supportive wife, who balances her personal and professional life with grace and dignity.
She is also a passionate writer and a speaker, who shares her experiences and insights with the public through her books, articles, and lectures. She has written two books, ‘Leaves of Life’ and ‘Madam Commissioner’, which are autobiographical and motivational. She is also the co-founder of Indus Dictum, an online platform that publishes articles on various topics of public interest.
She is an avid reader and a fitness enthusiast. She loves to read books on history, philosophy, and spirituality. She also enjoys yoga, meditation, and swimming. She believes in living a simple and healthy life, and inspiring others to do the same.
Net Worth and Awards
Meeran Borwankar has an estimated net worth of around 35 lakhs to 1 crore INR, according to some sources. She has earned this wealth through her salary, pension, and other sources of income. She lives a comfortable and modest life, without any extravagance or ostentation.
She has also received several awards and honors for her outstanding service and achievements. Some of them are:
- President’s Police Medal for Distinguished Service in 2006
- Police Medal for Meritorious Service in 1997
- Director General’s Insignia in 1995
- Maharashtra Government’s Award for the Best Investigation of the Year in 1994
- Indian Police Service Association’s Award for the Best All-Round Performance in 1981
Meeran Borwankar is a role model and an inspiration for many women and men who aspire to join the police service or any other field of public service. She has shown that with hard work, dedication, and honesty, one can achieve anything in life. She has also demonstrated that one can be a successful professional and a loving family person at the same time. She has made a lasting impact on the society and the nation with her exemplary service and achievements. She is truly a trailblazing woman IPS officer of Maharashtra.
