Agency reports
New Delhi, Nov 26: Being country's first woman IPS officer, Kiran Bedi, now wants to quit the police force.
Bedi who is currently the DG for Bureau of police research and development put in her papers to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). There is a mandatory of 90 days in which the MHA is to decide on Bedi's resignation.
Bedi says that she is quitting because she wants to pursue her academic, social interests. Bedi said that she wants time for herself and that is why she wants to quit the post. Interestingly, the last time Bedi was in the news was when she made her disillusionment public over being sidelined for the post of Delhi Police Commissioner.
India's first woman police officer, seen as a symbol of empowerment in a male-dominated society, said on Tuesday she was quitting, months after a junior male colleague was chosen ahead of her for a top job.
Kiran Bedi, known as a tough, no-nonsense officer who spoke her mind, said she had applied for voluntary retirement two years ahead of schedule, to pursue academic and social interests.
At the time Bedi lashed out at the government saying she may have been overlooked because, as a woman, she did not have "booze friends", arguing appointments were being made on how good officers were at "networking".
On Tuesday though, she said the time had come to "move on".
"I want to focus on my academic, spiritual and social interests more," Bedi told reporters. "My 35 years of service has been totally fulfilling."
There was no immediate comment from the federal Home Ministry on her request for early retirement.
One of India's most recognized faces, Bedi has a larger-than-life image in a country where police are mostly perceived as inefficient or corrupt or both.