‘Even If Your Uncle Is the President, the Challan Will Be Issued’: Meet IPS Officer Anu Beniwal

“Even if your uncle is the President, the challan will be issued.”

That sentence from IPS officer Anu Beniwal went viral after a traffic check drive in Gwalior in Madhya Pradesh.

Her team had stopped a vehicle that was breaking the rules. It had no number plate, and the windows were fitted with dark film beyond permitted limits. When the driver allegedly tried to use political links to avoid a fine, she did not step back. The challan was issued, and the moment was recorded and shared widely online.

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The attention it received, however, is only a small part of her journey.

Anu Beniwal grew up in a home where money was mostly tight. Her father ran a small button manufacturing business, which suffered after a serious illness. At home, her mother supported the family by stitching clothes. Even with these difficulties, education remained at the centre of their efforts.

Her first attempt at the UPSC Civil Services Examination did not succeed. Like many who prepare for it, she faced the uncertainty that follows failure and the pressure to rethink her path. She chose to continue preparing rather than stop.

In 2022, she cleared the examination with an All India Rank of 217 and joined the Indian Police Service in the Madhya Pradesh cadre.

After joining the service, she was posted in areas where illegal sand mining was a persistent issue. Action against such activity brings resistance, and she faced pressure as well as threats. Still, she continued with enforcement work.

The traffic incident that went viral is what brought her into public view, but her work has also involved subtle decisions taken in difficult situations where rules and influence often come into conflict.

Her journey reflects a basic principle. The law is not meant to change with status or connections.