Amit Lodha is a 1998-batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer of the Bihar cadre, best known for leading the operation that brought down gangster Ashok Mahto in Sheikhpura — a case that later formed the basis of his bestselling book Bihar Diaries and the Netflix series Khakee: The Bihar Chapter.
Currently serving as Additional Director General of Police (ADG), State Crime Records Bureau (SCRB), Bihar, Lodha has spent nearly three decades in Indian law enforcement, earning both public recognition as Bihar’s “Super Cop” and scrutiny over allegations tied to his book and web-series deal.
Table of Content
- Quick Facts
- Early Life and Education
- Early Career and the Making of a “Super Cop”
- Bihar Diaries and Khakee: The Bihar Chapter
- Promotions and Current Posting
- Awards and Honours
- Personal Life
- Why Amit Lodha Matters Beyond Khakee
- FAQ
Quick Facts
| Profile Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Amit Lodha |
| Born | 22 February 1974, Jaipur, Rajasthan |
| Home State | Rajasthan |
| Service | Indian Police Service (IPS) |
| Batch / Cadre | 1998 / Bihar |
| IPS Badge Number | 19981029 |
| Recruitment Mode | Direct Recruit via UPSC Civil Services Examination |
| Education | B.Tech, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Delhi |
| Joined IPS | 7 September 1998 |
| Current Posting | ADG, SCRB, Bihar (Patna) |
| Pay Level | Level 15 |
| Current Posting Since | 22 March 2025 |
| Known For | Ashok Mahto gang takedown; author of Bihar Diaries; inspiration for Khakee: The Bihar Chapter |
| Years of Service | Approximately 28 years |
Early Life and Education
Amit Lodha was born on 22 February 1974 in Jaipur, Rajasthan, and studied at St Xavier’s School in the city before pursuing engineering. He went on to graduate with a B.Tech from the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi — one of India’s most competitive engineering institutes — around 1995. By his own account in later interviews, his early career search after IIT did not go as planned, which pushed him toward preparing for the UPSC Civil Services Examination, India’s national recruitment process for the IAS, IPS, and allied services.
He cleared the exam and joined the Indian Police Service in 1998, opting for the Bihar cadre — a state then grappling with a serious law-and-order crisis marked by kidnappings, extortion rackets, and organised gang violence.
Early Career and the Making of a “Super Cop”
After training, Lodha was posted as Assistant Superintendent of Police in Bihar, a period he has described as one of the toughest phases of the state’s policing history, when even professionals were reportedly wary of travelling through parts of Bihar.
His defining early case came while he was posted as Superintendent of Police in Sheikhpura. The district was under the grip of Ashok Mahto, a gang leader with alleged political backing, whose network was linked to extortion, kidnapping, and mass killings — including a notorious 2006 massacre in Manikpur village. Lodha led the multi-state manhunt that eventually led to the arrest of Ashok Mahto and his associate Pintu Mahto in 2006, an operation that made national headlines and cemented his reputation as one of Bihar’s most effective police officers.
Over the following years, he held several district and state-level postings across Bihar Police, continuing to work on organised crime and internal security.
Bihar Diaries and Khakee: The Bihar Chapter
Lodha turned his Sheikhpura operation into the book Bihar Diaries: The True Story of How Bihar’s Most Dangerous Criminal Was Caught, followed later by a second book, Life in the Uniform: Adventures of an IPS Officer in Bihar. Bihar Diaries became the basis for the Netflix web series Khakee: The Bihar Chapter, directed by Neeraj Pandey’s production team, which dramatised his pursuit of the gang and brought Lodha’s story to a national audience.
The show’s success significantly raised his public profile, but it also drew official attention: Bihar authorities later examined whether Lodha’s commercial agreement with the production company, entered into while he was a serving officer, amounted to a misuse of his official position for financial gain. The matter was reported as part of a broader scrutiny of his assets and dealings connected to the book and series. As with any ongoing administrative or legal matter involving a serving officer, readers should treat news coverage of this issue as developing rather than final.
Promotions and Current Posting
Lodha has risen steadily through the IPS ranks over 28 years of service, with at least one formal promotion on his official record. In March 2025, the Bihar government promoted him to the rank of Additional Director General of Police (ADG). He currently serves as ADG, State Crime Records Bureau (SCRB), Bihar, based in Patna, at Pay Level 15, a posting effective from 22 March 2025.
Earlier in his career, he also served on deputation with the Border Security Force (BSF) as Deputy Inspector General in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, before returning to Bihar cadre postings.
Awards and Honours
Lodha’s official service record includes the following recognitions:
- Police Medal for Gallantry (2016)
- Police Medal for Meritorious Service (2015)
- Police (Internal Security) Service Medal (2020)
These awards reflect both frontline operational work and sustained meritorious service across his career in Bihar Police.
Personal Life
Amit Lodha comes from Rajasthan; his father was reported to be a doctor. Public reporting on his family life is limited and, in places, inconsistent, as he has generally kept details about his spouse and children out of the public eye. He is known to enjoy tennis and squash outside of work.
Why Amit Lodha Matters Beyond Khakee
While the Netflix adaptation introduced Lodha to a nationwide audience, his career reflects a broader story common to many IPS officers: two-and-a-half decades of district postings, internal security work, and administrative responsibility that rarely make headlines. His case is also a useful example of the tension officers can face between public storytelling — books, shows, media appearances — and the conduct rules that govern serving government officials in India.
FAQ
Who is Amit Lodha?
Amit Lodha is a 1998-batch IPS officer of the Bihar cadre, currently serving as Additional Director General of Police, State Crime Records Bureau, Bihar. He is best known for leading the operation against gangster Ashok Mahto and for authoring Bihar Diaries, which inspired the Netflix series Khakee: The Bihar Chapter.
Which IPS batch and cadre does Amit Lodha belong to?
He belongs to the 1998 batch and the Bihar cadre, having joined the Indian Police Service as a Direct Recruit through the UPSC Civil Services Examination.
What is Amit Lodha known for?
He is best known for leading the manhunt that resulted in the 2006 arrest of gangster Ashok Mahto in Sheikhpura, Bihar, and for writing Bihar Diaries, the book that inspired Khakee: The Bihar Chapter.
What is Amit Lodha’s educational background?
He holds a B.Tech degree from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Delhi.
What is Amit Lodha’s current posting?
As of March 2025, he serves as Additional Director General of Police, State Crime Records Bureau (SCRB), Bihar, posted in Patna.
What awards has Amit Lodha received?
His honours include the Police Medal for Gallantry (2016), the Police Medal for Meritorious Service (2015), and the Police (Internal Security) Service Medal (2020).
Is Khakee: The Bihar Chapter based on a true story?
Yes. The Netflix series is based on Amit Lodha’s book Bihar Diaries, which recounts his real operation against the Ashok Mahto gang while he was Superintendent of Police in Sheikhpura, Bihar.