The country’s best known cop is back.  Or will be back very shortly.  Kiran Bedi, country’s first woman IPS officer is ending her two years deputation as the Civilian Police Adviser in the UN Department of Peacekeeping  Operations and returning home.  With effect from today Bedi ceases to be a UN official and return back to India to present herself back to duty ministry of home affairs.

Technically, she is in line to be second in command to Delhi Police Commissioner Dr. K.K.Paul being an officer of 1972 batch of the IPS— an year junior to the commissioner himself. It is another matter whether Delhi Police will be able to create a place for her since the three special commissioner posts are already filled up currently.

But it is somewhat difficult to ignore an officer like Bedi and while there may be some muted opposition to her within the tope posts in ministry and police force, the level of support she has is also immense. Speaking to Delhi Mid Day some months back Bedi had said that she’s had her stint in the UN and was keen to come back to Delhi and do what she’s been trained for — policing.

Over the years Bedi has been very categoric in explaining why she ever joined the police service.  She says she was a people and community-oriented person growing up. “I could have ended up work but since I was a political science student I was naturally attracted to the Civil Service.  I opted for the Indian Police Service because it allowed for working directly with people and also gave me the power to deliver”.

Over the years Kiran Bedi who has been a major source of inspiration to a variety of reform in policing has been charged with being just a bit high handed in her approach and distingtly rebellious in her attitude.Her detractors charge her with being hungry for publicity, which she has always denied.  

The general grapevine in the police department is that if Kiran Bedi were ever to become the Police Commissioner here in Delhi. She’d only have die-hard supporters and die hard detractors to handle.   

Such is the emotions that this diminutive police officer attracts.

But there is little doubt that Dedi wants to come right back to Delhi Police and be assigned a task where she can put her vast experience to work.  Technically after KK Paul she becomes an automatic choice to head Delhi Police.  She still has some years left for retirement.  But her way to the top cop’s chair isn’t going to be easy.  Far too many stumbling blocks are going to come her way.  But then again she doesn’t look the kind to let these blocks thwart her from doing what she wants.