IPS officer Manzil Saini cleared UPSC while pregnant, later won gallantry medal

Manzil Saini’s IPS journey: From kidney racket probe to becoming Lucknow’s first woman SSP. (Photo: X Post)

She was pregnant when she appeared for the Civil Services Examination in 2005. She cleared it in her first attempt and joined the Indian Police Service, becoming widely described as the first married woman to enter the IPS.

Nearly two decades later, Manzil Saini has built a career that includes a major kidney racket investigation, becoming the first woman to head Lucknow police as SSP and receiving a gallantry medal for a 2017 hostage rescue.Born in Delhi in September 1975, Saini studied Physics at St Stephen's College before pursuing higher studies at the Delhi School of Economics, where she won a gold medal. She worked in the corporate sector for three years before appearing for the UPSC examination.

She was allotted the Uttar Pradesh cadre and joined the 2005 batch of the IPS. The Uttar Pradesh Police's current officer database lists her as an IG in the Vigilance unit.

The kidney racket case that brought her into the spotlight

Saini's first major posting was as Assistant Superintendent of Police in Moradabad. Within months, she became part of the investigation into the kidney transplant racket linked to Dr Amit Kumar.A small lead reportedly emerged from an altercation involving two men near a railway station.

Police investigation subsequently uncovered a wider network involving kidney trafficking, hospitals and middlemen. Saini participated in raids and the case was later transferred to the CBI.The case brought her national attention early in her career and contributed to the nickname "Lady Singham" used by sections of the police and media.

First woman to become Lucknow SSP

Saini served in several Uttar Pradesh districts, including Badaun, Muzaffarnagar, Mathura and Etawah.

In May 2016, she was appointed Senior Superintendent of Police of Lucknow, becoming the first woman to hold the post in the history of Uttar Pradesh.Her tenure also included a high-profile 2017 hostage rescue in Meerut. According to the official gallantry citation, Saini and other officers moved towards armed kidnappers and successfully rescued a kidnapped doctor. The citation records that she displayed conspicuous courage and devotion to duty during the operation.She received the Gallantry Medal in 2024 for the operation. The Uttar Pradesh Police database records the award as "GM-26/01/2024".

The Shravan Sahu case and the inquiry

Saini's Lucknow tenure also became associated with the killing of businessman Shravan Sahu in February 2017. Sahu had been pursuing the murder case of his son and had expressed concerns about threats to his life. Contemporary reporting showed that a request for police protection had been recommended by the SSP but had not received the required clearance before Sahu was killed.The CBI later recommended departmental action against Saini over alleged lapses in providing security. However, a departmental inquiry ordered by the Uttar Pradesh government subsequently gave her a clean chit in 2023. The inquiry reported that Saini had recommended protection, while the necessary approval had not been completed.

That episode remains an important part of her career record alongside the investigations, senior postings and gallantry award that have defined her public profile.