R. Sreelekha

IPS
Born (1960-12-25) 25 December 1960
Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India
NationalityIndian
Alma materGovernment College for Women, Thiruvananthapuram
SpouseDr. S. Sethunath
Police career
Country India
AllegianceIndian Police Service
DepartmentKerala Police
Service years33
StatusRetired
RankDirector General of Police
Batch1987
CadreKerala
Awards

R. Sreelekha (born 25 December 1960) is an officer in the Indian Police Service and the first Lady Officer of the IPS from Kerala, India.[1] Sreelekha is also an author and now running a successful YouTube channel- “Sasneham Sreelekha” (With Love, Sreelekha) to share her experiences as a police officer. She has also served as managing director for public sector organisations in Kerala. During her tenure in the CBI, she earned the nickname of 'Raid Sreelekha'.[2]

Early life and family

Sreelekha was born on the Christmas day of 1960,[3] as one of the daughters of Prof. N. Velayudhan Nair and B. Radhamma.[4] Sreelekha's father Prof. N. Velayudhan Nair had fought the Second World War as a soldier in the Indian Army, on the side of the Allied Forces. Sreelekha is married to Dr. Sethunath, Prof. Paediatric Surgery, Medical College Hospital, Thiruvananthapuram and has one son, Gokul.

Education

Sreelekha completed her schooling from Government Higher Secondary School for Girls, Cotton Hill in Thiruvananthapuram[5] where she was involved in various activities like music, drama, NCC and NSS.

She then went on to complete her bachelor's degree in English Literature at the Government College for Women, Thiruvananthapuram. She then did her master's[1] at the Institute of English in the University of Kerala.[4] In 2005, while in service, she obtained an MBA in Human Resource Management from IGNOU.[4]

She was awarded the prestigious Chevening Fellowship by the Government of the United Kingdom and she undertook the fellowship studies in King's College, London, Sciences Po Paris, Edinburgh University, United Nations offices in Geneva and Oxford from September to December 2015.

She also attended the Mid-Career Training Program at the London Business School and Metropolitan Police (Scotland Yard) in 2013.

Career

Early career

Prior to joining the police service, Sreelekha, worked as a lecturer at the Shree Vidyadhiraja College. She also worked for the Reserve Bank of India, as a Grade B Officer and was posted as a Statistical Officer in Mumbai.[6]

Indian Police Service

In January 1987, at the age of 26, Sreelekha became the first woman IPS officer in Kerala Cadre.

After joining the police service, she has served as District Superintendent of Police in 3 districts, Alappuzha, Pathanamthitta[7] and Thrissur. Sreelekha also worked with the Central Bureau of Investigation for 4 years as Superintendent of Police in Kerala and DIG in New Delhi.[8] She was promoted to Deputy Inspector General of the Ernakulam Range.[9]

In 2005, Sreelekha was posted as the Managing Director of the Kerala State Co-operative Rubber Marketing Federation.[10] In June 2007,[4] she was posted as the Managing Director of the Roads and Bridges Development Corporation of Kerala.[11] Later on, she also served as the Inspector General, Crime Branch.[12][13] She also served as Addl. DGP, Armed Police Battalions[14] with additional charge for Training.[3] From her posting as ADGP Vigilance,[15] on 15 February 2014, she has been posted as ADGP (Police Home Guards, Community Policing, Gender Justice and Nodal Officer for Nirbhaya).[16][17]

She was the Organising Secretary of the 5th National Conference of Women in Police, organised by the Bureau of Police Research & Development in July 2012,[18] and is also a strong advocate of gender parity in the Kerala Police force.[19] As ADGP, Sreelekha was asked by Kerala Home Minister, Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan to conduct an inquiry into the involvement of Kerala Information Commissioner K. Natarajan, who had allegedly persuaded a Dy.S.P of Police to leave out the name of V. S. Achuthanandan from the list of accused in a land scam case.[20] After completion of investigations, Sreelekha recommended the suspension of the Information Commissioner, upon finding that the official had misused his office.[21] R. Sreelekha as ADGP Vigilance & anti-corruption Bureau, chargesheeted the Disproportionate Asset case against IG Tomin J. Thachankary, accused also in several other cases. As retaliation, Thachankary accused Sreelekha for violating norms in visiting Thailand prior to Government Permission.[22]

Sreelekha sought permission from the government to file a defamation suit against Tomin J. Thachankary, and obtained the same.[23] As the Transport Commissioner in Kerala, she reduced the road accidents and fatalities substantially through inclusive road safety measures and in 2014, there were 292 less fatalities in Kerala against the statistics in 2013, which was a record achievement in India. The revenue from taxes and penalties reached an all-time high of Rs 3000 crore during her tenure. Motor Vehicle Department became successful in e-governance, Vahan-Sarathy was completed and an android app called 'Smart trace' was made to detect vehicle duplications and digital record of around 98 lakh vehicles in the state. She also conducted Asia's first ever Road Hackathon with assistance from the World Bank, at Technopark where over 300 participants showcased their technological innovations to better road safety in the State.

For detecting Praveen Murder case in Kottayam and arresting the then - DySP R Shaji and also for getting lifetime imprisonment for him and his accomplices within 90 days of chargesheeting the case, she was awarded the Government's Meritorious Service Award.[24]

She was the officer investigating the Kiliroor sex scandal case, and reported to the CBI court that there was no VIP involved. Thomas Chandy, an MLA and K. P. Mohanan was accused of being linked to the case. However, Sreelekha's deposition to the court was on the basis of the statement from the victim which absolved the two.[25] R.Sreelekha investigated the irregularities in Consumerfed in procuring rice above the market price and for irregularities found in various godowns in Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram[26] She was the Transport Commissioner of Kerala from July 2013 to September 2015, during which time, road accidents and fatalities were at an all-time low. Asia's first ever road safety Hackathon conducted by her with assistance from World Bank at Technopark Trivandrum was a huge success.

As ADGP Crime Records Bureau, she completed the Crime & Criminal Tracking networking system and started an interactive website "THUNA" (The Hand U Need for Assistance) for a public interface with police. As Additional DGP, Intelligence, Kerala from June 2016 to January 2017, her proposal to start a counseling center HATS (Help and Assistance to Tackle Stress) for police officers who are suffering from mental stress, to help those who have personal problems such as addiction, issues with senior officers, family problems, financial problems, suicide tendencies etc. has been approved by the Department. [27] [28][29][30]

She got promoted to the rank of Director General of Police in September, 2017.[31][32] From January 2017 to June 2019, she worked as the Director General of Prisons and Correctional Services in Kerala. She had introduced several positive changes in the 54 prisons in the State which are now referred to as Correctional Centers. From June 2017 to 1 June 2020, she was the head of a newly created post, "Social Policing & Traffic" in Kerala and was stationed at the Kerala State Police Headquarters.

She took charge as the DGP heading the Kerala Fire And Rescue Services on 1 June 2020, becoming the first 'Woman DGP' of independent charge in Kerala.

She retired on 31 December 2020, as the Director General of the Kerala Fire And Rescue Services, after completing 33 years and 5 months in the service. [33] [34] [35] [36]

Medals and recognition

  • In 2004, as DIG Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau, Sreelekha was awarded the President's Police Medal for Meritorious Service.[37]
  • In 2013, as ADGP Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau, Sreelekha was awarded the President's Police Medal for Distinguished Service.[38][39]
  • In 2006, during her stint as managing director, the Rubber Board won the Thailand Government's Best Exporter of Rubber in Asia award.[1]
  • Sreelekha was selected for the prestigious Chevening Fellowship by the Government of United Kingdom and she attended the fellowship in London at King's College from September to December 2015. She also attended specialised training at Scotland Yard/metropolitan police of UK.
  • She won the Indian Overseas Award for Public Service in 2006.
  • FOKANA award for literary contributions was given to her in 2005.
  • In 2007, she received the Kerala Government's Meritorious Services Award for detecting the sensational case of the murder of a civilian named Praveen by the then-Deputy Superintendent of Police R Shaji. After the investigation, Shaji was found guilty by the court.[40][41][42][43]

Selected works

Sreelekha has penned and published 9 books.

  • Cheru marmarangal (2005)[44]
  • Neerazhikapuram (2006)[45]
  • Maranna Doothan (2008)[46]
  • Kuzhaloothukaran (2009)[47]
  • Lottos Theenikal (2009)[47]
  • Mansile Mazhavillu (2011)[48]
  • Niyama samrakshanam Streekalkku- a book on legal awareness to women
  • Kuttikalum Policum- a book for the children about Police and their activities
  • Jaagarookan (2013)- Detective novel Publisher DC Books
  • Thamasoma- Detective series in Kerala Koumudi magazine

She writes regular columns in periodicals and magazines. Her column in Vanitha Magazine, "Marupuram, the Other Side" which is being published now is well appreciated by the readers.

Sasneham Sreelekha- YouTube Channel

https://youtube.com/channel/UCup0QqQP2A95jqYkzJuuU9w

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 "President's medal for R.Sreelekha". The Hindu. 26 January 2013. Retrieved 26 February 2014.
  2. ↑ Ullas, A S (3 December 2013). "Sreelekha IPS @ 25". Malayala Manorama. Retrieved 28 February 2014.
  3. 1 2 "IPS (Kerala Cadre) Civil List as on 01-01-2012" (PDF). General Administration Department, Government of Kerala. Retrieved 26 February 2014.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "R.Sreelekha, IPS". Kerala.com. Retrieved 26 February 2014.
  5. ↑ "Back to school". The Hindu. 11 February 2010. Archived from the original on 24 March 2014. Retrieved 26 February 2014.
  6. ↑ "Sreelekha IPS". Who am I?. Sreelekha R. Retrieved 26 February 2014.
  7. ↑ "An officer and a writer". The Hindu. 1 May 2003. Archived from the original on 24 March 2014. Retrieved 26 February 2014.
  8. ↑ "Failure to curb abkari-official nexus". The Hindu. 8 November 2000. Archived from the original on 24 March 2014. Retrieved 27 February 2014.
  9. ↑ "New appointments in Police force soon". The Hindu. 28 September 2004. Archived from the original on 14 October 2004. Retrieved 26 February 2014.
  10. ↑ "Monitoring System to strengthen policing". The Hindu. 18 August 2005. Archived from the original on 5 December 2007. Retrieved 26 February 2014.
  11. ↑ "Public Information Officers". Right to Information, Kerala Government. Retrieved 26 February 2014.
  12. ↑ "Conference of Directors General of Police of Southern States(press)". Kerala Police. Archived from the original on 4 March 2013. Retrieved 26 February 2014.
  13. ↑ "Promotions in Police force". The Hindu. 25 April 2009. Retrieved 26 February 2014.
  14. ↑ "IPS officers working as head of departments/offices" (PDF). General Administration Dept. Government of Kerala. Retrieved 26 February 2014.
  15. ↑ "Perverts rule streets". Deccan Chronicle. 5 November 2012. Archived from the original on 26 March 2014. Retrieved 26 February 2014.
  16. ↑ "Top cops shifted ahead of elections". Times of India. 16 February 2014. Retrieved 26 February 2014.
  17. ↑ "Reshuffle in Top Cop Echelons". The New Indian Express. 16 February 2014. Retrieved 26 February 2014.
  18. ↑ "National meet of women in police". The Hindu. 19 July 2012. Retrieved 27 February 2014.
  19. ↑ "Kerala police not women-friendly?". Deccan Chronicle. 28 January 2013. Archived from the original on 17 August 2014. Retrieved 27 February 2014.
  20. ↑ "Kerala information commissioner suspended". The Sunday Indian. 12 November 2012. Retrieved 28 February 2014.
  21. ↑ "Information Commissioner suspended for 'meddling' with police investigation". Tehelka. 12 November 2012. Retrieved 28 February 2014.
  22. ↑ "Many went on such trips, only I got the stick: Thachankary plea to CAT". The Indian Express. 23 April 2010. Retrieved 28 February 2014.
  23. ↑ "Govt for Reviewing Thachankary's Service Records". The New Indian Express. 18 January 2014. Retrieved 28 February 2014.
  24. ↑ "Top police officer arrested in Praveen murder case".
  25. ↑ "No VIP involved in Kiliroor case, IG clarifies". IBN. 14 December 2011. Archived from the original on 5 March 2014. Retrieved 28 February 2014.
  26. ↑ "Ramesh: No Bid to Derail Consumerfed Case Probe". The New Indian Express. 12 January 2014. Retrieved 28 February 2014.
  27. ↑ "Home".
  28. ↑ "Kerala: Woman IPS officer says fellow ADGP harassing her for 29 years". February 2016.
  29. ↑ "Kerala IPS officer alleges harassment by colleague".
  30. ↑ http://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/in-other-news/010216/kerala-woman-ips-officer-accuses-colleague-of-harassment-for-29 years.html
  31. ↑ "Kerala's first woman IPS officer Sreelekha now becomes first woman DGP".
  32. ↑ "R Sreelekha IPS officer: 'Many tried to prove that IPS is not for a woman' | Kochi News - Times of India". The Times of India.
  33. ↑ "R Sreelekha, First woman IPS officer in Kerala retires - ET Government".
  34. ↑ "R Sreelekha, first woman DGP in Kerala, retires from service".
  35. ↑ "Kerala's first woman IPS officer Sreelekha retires after 33 years of service".
  36. ↑ "R. Sreelekha, the first woman IPS officer in Kerala, set to be the State's first woman DGP". The Hindu. 27 May 2020.
  37. ↑ "Republic Day Police Medals, 2004 announced". POLICE MEDALS TO 627 PERSONNEL. Press Information Bureau. Retrieved 26 February 2014.
  38. ↑ "Force Wise/State Wise list of medal awardees to the Police personnel on the occasion of Republic Day 2013" (PDF). President's Police Medal for Distinguished Service 2013. Press Information Bureau, Government of India. Retrieved 26 February 2014.
  39. ↑ "President's police medal for ADGP R Sreelekha IPS". Madhyamam. 25 January 2013. Retrieved 26 February 2014.
  40. ↑ "Top police officer arrested in Praveen murder case".
  41. ↑ "Kerala Road Safety Authority (KRSA) and World Bank Group Organize a Hackathon on Road Safety".
  42. ↑ "Two-day Kerala Road Safety Hackathon Comes to an End".
  43. ↑ "Hackathon for road safety solutions". The Hindu. 6 August 2015.
  44. ↑ "IPS officer authors third book". Whispers in the corridors. Archived from the original on 24 March 2014. Retrieved 27 February 2014.
  45. ↑ "Neerazhikapuram". Amazon. Retrieved 27 February 2014.
  46. ↑ Śr̲Īlēkha, Ār (January 2008). Maranna Doothan. ISBN 978-8126419647.
  47. 1 2 "Sreelekha IPS". DC Books. Retrieved 27 February 2014.
  48. ↑ "Chakshumathi's Cochin Centre opened". Chakshumathi. Archived from the original on 24 March 2014. Retrieved 27 February 2014.
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