The 1990-batch IPS officer, known for her tough policing and crackdown on organised crime
June 30, 2026: Senior IPS officer Shobha Ohatkar, a 1990-batch officer and Director General-cum-Commandant General of Bihar Home Guards and Fire Services, retired from service on Tuesday after a distinguished career spanning over three decades. A farewell ceremony was organised at the Central Training Institute of Bihar Home Guards in Bihta near Patna. Widely recognised for her strict policing style, Ohatkar earned a reputation as one of Bihar’s most respected police officers, known for taking decisive action against organised crime and criminal gangs.
Born in Pune, Ohatkar completed her Master’s degree in Political Science before clearing the Civil Services Examination and joining the Indian Police Service at the age of 22. She began her policing career in 1992 as Additional Superintendent of Police in Patna City and later served as Superintendent of Police in several districts, including Patna, Darbhanga, Hazaribagh, Vaishali, Saran, and Deoghar. During her tenure, she led major operations against coal smugglers, kidnapping networks, and organised crime, while her firm policing in Deoghar earned her the nickname “Hunter Wali Madam.”
Ohatkar also served on central deputation in Maharashtra before returning to Bihar in 2020, where she was promoted to Director General and introduced several reforms in the Home Guards and Fire Services. In 2023, she came under public scrutiny after IPS officer Vikas Vaibhav accused her of harassment, allegations she strongly denied, attributing the dispute to official discipline issues. Despite the controversy, she leaves behind a legacy of strong law enforcement and police modernisation in Bihar.