Meet Maharashtra IG Manoj Kumar Sharma: Worked As A Peon, Turned Auto Driver Yet Cracked UPSC To Become IPS
1 / 7
Hailing from a financially challenged family in Morena, Madhya Pradesh, Manoj Kumar Sharma faced numerous hardships during his childhood due to limited resources. Academically, he was considered a below-average student. He barely passed Class 10, reportedly relying on unfair means in some subjects, and failed his Class 12 exams on his first attempt. Financial struggles
2 / 7
As Manoj Kumar Sharma entered adulthood, his family's financial struggles worsened, pushing him to set aside his dreams of pursuing a formal education. To support his family and continue his studies, he took up various odd jobs—first working as an auto-rickshaw driver with his brother and later as a peon. Local authorities demolished tent
3 / 7
Manoj Kumar's life took a major turn when local authorities demolished the tent his family had been using as a temporary shelter, claiming their documents were incomplete. This incident sparked a determination in him to pursue a career in civil services. Sub-Divisional Magistrate
4 / 7
After the police took away his family's tent, Manoj went to the local District Magistrate's office and started asking questions about how to become a Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM). However, the journey turned out to be much harder than he expected. With barely any money for coaching or textbooks needed to prepare for the UPSC exams, Manoj faced severe hardships. At one point, he even had to sleep at a local temple alongside beggars, as he had no place to stay or money for accommodation. AIR Rank
5 / 7
Despite facing numerous challenges, Manoj Kumar Sharma remained determined to crack the UPSC Civil Services Examination. His perseverance paid off in 2005 when he cleared the exam with an impressive All India Rank (AIR) of 121 and secured a place in the Indian Police Service (IPS). IG in Maharashtra Police
6 / 7
After overcoming all odds, Manoj Kumar Sharma has continued to serve with integrity and commitment as an IPS officer. His consistent hard work and dedication have now earned him the prestigious position of Inspector General (IG) in the Maharashtra Police — a true reflection of his perseverance and sincerity. Vidhu Vinod Chopra's film 12th Fail
7 / 7
Before his promotion, Manoj Kumar Sharma served as the Additional Commissioner in the Mumbai Police. Although he is now widely known across India, especially after his inspiring life story was portrayed in Vidhu Vinod Chopra's film 12th Fail, there was a time when he faced severe financial hardships while striving to become a successful civil servant.
(All images: drmanoj_kumarsharma.ips)
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
15 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
15 arrested, 500 booked after violence in Pune's Yavat over 'objectionable' WhatsApp post
The Maharashtra Police has arrested 15 people and registered FIRs against more than 500 individuals after an irate mob vandalised properties and indulged in arson in Yavat in Pune's Daund tehsil over an objectionable post on social media. Pune: Security personnel keep vigil after two groups clashed over an alleged objectionable post on Friday, at Yavat in Pune's Daund tehsil. (PTI) The youth, who posed the objectionable status on messaging platform WhatsApp has also been arrested, an official told PTI on Saturday. Communal tension erupted in Yavat village in Daund tehsil of the city on Friday where several groups of persons vandalised and set ablaze properties over the objectionable content. A huge mob took to the streets to vent their ire and set ablaze a motorcycle and damaged a bakery even as the police lobbed teargas shells to bring the situation under control. Narayan Deshmukh, Yavat police station senior inspector, said 15 people have been arrested so far and remanded in police custody till August 6. Also Read: Mob violence in Pune's Yavat over 'objectionable' WhatsApp post; youth detained "So far, we have registered five cases in connection with the violence. Four of the cases are against more than 500 people who were allegedly involved in arson and damage to property. Of these, more than 100 people have been identified," an official from the Yavat police station told PTI. Police said that those involved in the incident targeted a motorcycle, two cars, one religious structure and a bakery. The police had to resort to tear gas shells and lathi-charge to disperse the mob after they indulged in arson. Meanwhile, prohibitory orders have been issued in Yavat and the situation is under control. 'Preliminary report says no planned conspiracy' Superintendent of Police (Pune Rural) Sandeep Singh Gill said the preliminary probe has not indicated to any planned conspiracy in the incident. He, however, said that no conclusions can be drawn until the inquiry is over. "Till Saturday afternoon, police have registered five FIRs in connection with the incident," Gill said, adding that the person whose objectionable post triggered the violence has resided in the village for years. The official also said the police responded quickly to the violence and brought the situation under control. "A large contingent of security personnel, including State Reserve Police Force (SRPF), has been deployed in the village. Authorities also imposed prohibitory orders under Bharatiya Nyaya Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) section 163 and Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) section 144 from Friday night. They will remain in place till the situation is assessed further," Gill was quoted as saying by PTI. Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar also visited the site on Friday and said the youth who allegedly uploaded the objectionable Whatsapp post hails from Nanded and is a daily wage labourer. He put out an objectionable post related to an incident that took place in Madhya Pradesh, which angered the locals and they resorted to vandalism, Pawar said.
The Hindu
a day ago
- The Hindu
DIG Varun Kumar urges Madras High Court to restrain NTK leader Seeman from making defamatory allegations
Deputy Inspector General of Police (Tiruchi Range) Varun Kumar has approached the Madras High Court to restrain Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK) leader S. Seeman from making defamatory, false, slanderous, or scandalous allegations against him through the media. Justice K. Kumaresh Babu accepted a request made by senior counsel P.H. Arvind Pandian, representing the DIG, for an urgent hearing of the plea due to serious reputational damage being caused, and directed the High Court Registry to list the matter on August 6, 2025. In the meantime, since advocate S. Shankar, representing Mr. Seeman, too entered appearance and objected to the grant of an ex-parte interim injunction, the judge granted him time till the next hearing for filing of a counter affidavit on behalf of the NTK leader. Filing an affidavit in support of his interim injunction application, the DIG listed out his professional achievements ever since he joined the Indian Police Service (IPS) after securing All India Rank-3 in the 2010 Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) civil services examination. Stating that Mr. Seeman had founded the NTK in 2010, the DIG said, he was a politician known for his demagoguery and controversial statements and actions, which had attracted criticism from various political parties as well as others for their polarising nature. 'His views and statements have, on numerous occasions, been seen as inciting division, and his rhetoric has stirred public debate,' Mr. Kumar said, and claimed that the politician began a personal tirade against him ever since the latter took action against a party member. In 2020-21, NTK member 'Sattai' Duraimurugan was arrested by Tiruvallur district police for having caused a law and order issue due to a false claim on his YouTube channel about the death of Foxconn factory workers due to food poisoning. He was also detained under the Goondas Act. 'At that time, I was serving as the Superintendent of Police, Tiruvallur district. Following 'Sattai' Duraimurugan's arrest, the Respondent herein (Mr. Seeman), the Chief Coordinator of Naam Tamilar Katchi, developed intense animosity towards me,' the DIG said. Complaining that the NTK leader had been making disparaging remarks against him in the media since then, the DIG said, Mr. Seeman had termed him 'a beggar' besides sullying the image of the entire police force in the country by stating that he was 'after all an IPS officer.' The DIG accused the NTK leader of also insinuating that he got promoted from one rank to the next not because of merit but because of his political allegiance. The officer said, the followers of the politicians too had begun harassing him and his family members on social media, thereby causing immense mental agony.
India.com
a day ago
- India.com
Meet Maharashtra IG Manoj Kumar Sharma: Worked As A Peon, Turned Auto Driver Yet Cracked UPSC To Become IPS
photoDetails english 2940201 Updated:Aug 02, 2025, 10:27 AM IST Educational Background 1 / 7 Hailing from a financially challenged family in Morena, Madhya Pradesh, Manoj Kumar Sharma faced numerous hardships during his childhood due to limited resources. Academically, he was considered a below-average student. He barely passed Class 10, reportedly relying on unfair means in some subjects, and failed his Class 12 exams on his first attempt. Financial struggles 2 / 7 As Manoj Kumar Sharma entered adulthood, his family's financial struggles worsened, pushing him to set aside his dreams of pursuing a formal education. To support his family and continue his studies, he took up various odd jobs—first working as an auto-rickshaw driver with his brother and later as a peon. Local authorities demolished tent 3 / 7 Manoj Kumar's life took a major turn when local authorities demolished the tent his family had been using as a temporary shelter, claiming their documents were incomplete. This incident sparked a determination in him to pursue a career in civil services. Sub-Divisional Magistrate 4 / 7 After the police took away his family's tent, Manoj went to the local District Magistrate's office and started asking questions about how to become a Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM). However, the journey turned out to be much harder than he expected. With barely any money for coaching or textbooks needed to prepare for the UPSC exams, Manoj faced severe hardships. At one point, he even had to sleep at a local temple alongside beggars, as he had no place to stay or money for accommodation. AIR Rank 5 / 7 Despite facing numerous challenges, Manoj Kumar Sharma remained determined to crack the UPSC Civil Services Examination. His perseverance paid off in 2005 when he cleared the exam with an impressive All India Rank (AIR) of 121 and secured a place in the Indian Police Service (IPS). IG in Maharashtra Police 6 / 7 After overcoming all odds, Manoj Kumar Sharma has continued to serve with integrity and commitment as an IPS officer. His consistent hard work and dedication have now earned him the prestigious position of Inspector General (IG) in the Maharashtra Police — a true reflection of his perseverance and sincerity. Vidhu Vinod Chopra's film 12th Fail 7 / 7 Before his promotion, Manoj Kumar Sharma served as the Additional Commissioner in the Mumbai Police. Although he is now widely known across India, especially after his inspiring life story was portrayed in Vidhu Vinod Chopra's film 12th Fail, there was a time when he faced severe financial hardships while striving to become a successful civil servant. (All images: drmanoj_kumarsharma.ips)
