New Delhi: India's first woman IPS officer Kiran Bedi has decided to quit the uniform. The top cop applied for voluntary retirement from service saying she needs time for academic interests.

“I have requested the government to grant me voluntary retirement,” said Bedi.

Bedi, a 1972 batch IPS officer of the UT cadre, emerged as a strong contender for the coveted post of Delhi Police Commissioner held by K K Paul in July this year.

But the Centre overlooked highly decorated police officer to name a junior IPS officer, Yudhvir Singh Dadwal, as the new Police Commissioner of Delhi, inviting sharp reaction from the country's first woman IPS officer.