CelinaArellano at 00:24, 7 November 2025

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{{short description|Indian police officer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=November 2018}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Letika Saran
| image = Letika Saran.jpg
| birth_date = 31 March 1952
| birth_place = [[Idukki]], Kerala
| occupation = [[Indian Police Service|IPS Officer]]
| spouse =
| children =
}}

'''Letika Saran''' is the former [[Director General of Police]], [[Tamil Nadu]], [[India]]. Earlier she served as the 36th Commissioner of Police in [[Chennai]]. She is the only woman to head a metropolitan police organization in [[India]]. Before that she was an Additional Director-General of Police (ADGP).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/yw/2003/08/16/stories/2003081600130300.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071001030820/http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/yw/2003/08/16/stories/2003081600130300.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=1 October 2007|title= Stride for stride |last=Wilson |first=Subajayanthi |date=16 August 2003|work=[[The Hindu]]|accessdate=11 February 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hindu.com/2006/04/21/stories/2006042108430100.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060421152307/http://www.hindu.com/2006/04/21/stories/2006042108430100.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=21 April 2006|title= Chennai gets its first woman Police Commissioner |date=21 April 2006|work=[[The Hindu]]|accessdate=11 February 2010}}</ref>

==Early life==
Saran was born on 31 March 1952 in [[Idukki]] district in [[Kerala]]. Her father's name is NS Dhar. He was the first planter at James Finlay and Co, which later became Tata Tea.
Her mother's name is Vijayalakshmi Dhar. She entered the Tamil Nadu [[Indian Police Service]] in 1976 as one of the first two women to be admitted, the other being Thilagavathi.<ref name="Selvaraj">{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/Letika-Saran-citys-first-woman-top-cop-retires-today/articleshow/12476077.cms|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130103072741/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-03-31/chennai/31266081_1_letika-saran-ips-officers-police-training-college|url-status=live|archive-date=3 January 2013|title=Letika Saran, city's first woman top cop, retires today|last=Selvaraj|first=A.|date=31 March 2012|work=[[The Times of India]]|access-date=1 November 2012}}</ref>

==Career==
Saran's postings include ADGP; Training and Project Director, [[Tamil Nadu Police]] Academy; Inspector-General of Police, [[Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption]] (DVAC). She became the Commissioner of Police, Greater Chennai on 20 April 2006.

On 8 January 2010, she was appointed as [[Director General of Police]] (DGP) for Tamil Nadu, becoming the second female DGP of a state in India and the first for Tamil Nadu. Saran's appointment was later challenged by another IPS officer who claimed his seniority had been overlooked. In October 2010, the [[Madras High Court]] overturned Saran's appointment and ruled that a list of three eligible candidates must be presented from which the state government would make their selection.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/tamil-nadu-court-quashes-appointment-of-first-woman-dgp-58292|title=Tamil Nadu: Court quashes appointment of first woman DGP|date=9 October 2010|work=NDTV|accessdate=1 November 2012}}</ref> The state government, "after due consideration and in full compliance with the directions of the Supreme Court," again chose Saran from the list. She was re-appointed on 27 November 2010.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-07-22/chennai/29802840_1_letika-saran-prakash-singh-case-counter-affidavit|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130120120407/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-07-22/chennai/29802840_1_letika-saran-prakash-singh-case-counter-affidavit|url-status=dead|archive-date=20 January 2013|title=Norms followed in Letika posting: Govt|date=2 July 2011|work=[[The Times of India]]|accessdate=1 November 2012}}</ref>

Saran retired in April 2012.<ref name="Selvaraj"/>

== Post retirement ==
After her retirement, she spends her time by engaging in social activities. She gave more importance to road safety sector by taking awareness sessions in schools, colleges and has been engaging and creating awareness through [[Non-governmental organization|NGOs]] too. She also inaugurated a massive Traffic Awareness Campaign<ref>{{Cite web|title=Thozhan Spreads The Word About Traffic Rules, at 100 Signals in City|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/2015/aug/11/thozhan-spreads-the-word-about-traffic-rules-at-100-signals-in-city-797681.html|access-date=2020-06-25|website=The New Indian Express |date=11 August 2015 }}</ref> held on 100 traffic signals across Chennai on same day and same time on 9 August 2015 organized by Thozhan NGO<ref>{{Cite web|title=Thozhan's job is your safety, create awareness about helping accident victims|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/2017/oct/29/thozhans-job-is-your-safety-create-awareness-about-helping-accident-victims-1686500.html|access-date=2020-06-25|website=The New Indian Express |date=30 October 2017 }}</ref> which works on creating road safety awareness along with [[Good Samaritan Law (India)|Good Samaritan Law]] awareness<ref>{{Cite web|date=August 7, 2017|title=Road safety awareness: Group takes road safety awareness to 71 parks|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/group-takes-road-safety-awareness-to-71-parks/articleshow/59946237.cms|access-date=2020-06-25|website=The Times of India|language=en}}</ref> to transform our country as Accident Free Nation. Along with the volunteers, she also interacted with the public, distributed awareness pamphlets<ref>{{Cite web|title=Former DGP Lathika Charan gives pamphlets on Road Safety Awareness|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zkt3OAH2LdU |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/Zkt3OAH2LdU |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|access-date=|website=You Tube | date=9 August 2015 }}{{cbignore}}</ref> and spoke to them about the importance of following road safety rules.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.chennaicitypolice.org/ Official Website of Chennai City Police] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070830184139/http://www.chennaicitypolice.org/ |date=30 August 2007 }}
*[http://www.tn.gov.in/police/ Official Website of the Tamil Nadu Police]

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Saran, Latika}}
[[Category:1952 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Indian police officers]]
[[Category:People from Chennai]]
[[Category:People from Idukki district]]
[[Category:Indian women police officers]]
[[Category:Women from Kerala]]

Letika Saran - Revision history

CelinaArellano at 00:24, 7 November 2025