From 'Raid Sreelekha' to Mayor: The Remarkable Journey of Kerala's First Woman IPS Officer

Thiruvananthapuram:

R Sreelekha, a retired police officer and BJP candidate, has made history in the Thiruvananthapuram local body elections by defeating her Left opponent with a margin of 700 votes in the Sasthamangalam ward.

With the BJP-led NDA now claiming stake to the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation—a first for the party in Kerala—speculation surrounds who will become the first BJP Mayor. Sreelekha emerges as a strong contender, potentially marking a remarkable transition from distinguished police service to becoming the capital city's first citizen.

Born December 25, 1960, to Prof N Velayudhan Nair and B Radhamma in Thiruvananthapuram, Sreelekha completed her education at Cotton Hill Girls Higher Secondary School before obtaining bachelor's and master's degrees in English Literature from Women's College and the University Institute. She initially worked as a lecturer and later at the Reserve Bank, where she enjoyed better compensation.

Nevertheless, in January 1987, she pioneered as Kerala's first woman IPS officer from the 1987-batch Kerala cadre. She later revealed in interviews that her first decade in service required extraordinary effort to navigate a system unfriendly to female officers. She credits her professional ascent to her mother's influence and once shared how a young female IPS trainee from another state sought her blessing, expressing aspirations to follow her path.

Throughout her career, Sreelekha served as District Police Chief in multiple locations, including Cherthala, Thrissur, Pathanamthitta, and Alappuzha. Her decisive approach to conducting raids during her four-year tenure with the CBI, handling economic offenses as Superintendent of Police in Kerala and later as Deputy Inspector General in New Delhi, earned her the nickname "Raid Sreelekha." The Kerala government recognized her contributions with the Meritorious Services Award in 2007.

Within police circles, she was known as a vocal advocate for increasing female representation in law enforcement. She consistently challenged the "only males can apply" rule during Police Service Commission recruitments. During her career, women's representation in the force more than doubled from 4% to over 9%.

Sreelekha led investigations into numerous high-profile cases, including a sensational murder that shocked Kerala. As she rose through ranks to DIG, IG, and ADGP, she headed the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau and the Crime Branch. Her teams conducted unexpected raids exposing significant corruption, including the 2013 Operation Annapurna scam involving Consumerfed officials allegedly procuring goods at inflated prices.

In the notorious 2003 Kiliroor sex scandal investigating the exploitation of minors by influential individuals, Sreelekha made a controversial choice. When a critically ill victim pleaded with her to catch and slap the abusers, Sreelekha later slapped a key accused, Latha Nair—an action she later acknowledged as illegal but driven by conscience.

Her distinguished career included heading Prisons and Correctional Services and the Fire and Rescue Services, where she modernized emergency response protocols during floods and fires. She also served as Transport Commissioner and oversaw the Rubber Marketing Federation. Her career culminated as Kerala's first woman Director General of Police before her retirement in 2020 after 33 years of service.

Sreelekha's outspoken approach occasionally generated controversy. She publicly addressed misogyny and sexual harassment within the police force and intervened in cases involving the exploitation of female officers. She faced ridicule, personal attacks, rumors, and threats, particularly during excise raids in Pathanamthitta. Post-retirement, she questioned the investigation of the 2017 actor assault case and publicly supported actor Dileep, maintaining his innocence.

Beyond law enforcement, Sreelekha is an accomplished author with nine published books, including the detective novel "Maranadhoothan," reissued in 2020. She is married to Dr. Sethunath, a childhood friend and Professor of Pediatric Surgery at the Government Medical College in Thiruvananthapuram. Their son Gokul is pursuing an MBA.

After retirement, Sreelekha maintained political neutrality before joining the BJP in October 2024 in Thiruvananthapuram. She has cited Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership as her inspiration, stating: "I was impartial in service. After retirement, I believe this is the best way to serve people."