making waves
A force to reckon with

IF her role model Kiran Bedi could break the glass ceiling for women entering into the police force, Meera Chadha Borwankar, 46, has an equally distinctive record to her credit. She took over as the first ever woman to be posted as Commissioner of Mumbai Crime Branch in its 150-year-long history.

It was in Jalandhar that she was groomed her for a career in the police force. Meera spent her formative years in the Jalandhar cantonment area, doing her schooling, graduation and postgraduation from there.

Then came the time for moving on. She was selected as IPS officer of the Maharashtra cadre in 1981, after which there was no looking back for this bright, smart but down-to-earth girl. She has also served in State CID Crime branch, CBI Mumbai and Delhi, and as DSP Aurangabad. Prestigious awards that came her way include President’s Award (1997), the Police medal, Director General's insignia for meritorious service and Hubert Humphrey Fellowship (2001-2) in three decades of her policing career. — D.A.