This is one glass ceiling that looked improbable that a woman would be able to break.

Undoubtedly then, Meera Borwankar will make history when she takes charge of Mumbai's famed Crime Branch on Wednesday July 21 and become the first woman ever to head the department, which deals with, among other things, one of the world's most organised mafias.

Her appointment will not mean the Dawood Ibrahims and Chhota Rajans can take a breather because Borwankar is known as one of the toughest officers Maharashtra has had. Her bosses, subordinates and criminals she has dealt with will vouch for that.

An IPS officer of the 1981 batch, the 46-year-old served as deputy commissioner of police in Mumbai from 1987-91.

She was district superintendent of police in Aurangabad from 1991-93 and was in the same position in Satara district from 1996-99.

During her stint with the state Crime Investigation Department from 1993-95, one of the important cases she investigated was the Jalgaon sex scandal. Recipient of the Police Medal and Director General's insignia, she has had a stint with the CBI.

A Punjabi, she is married to Abhay Borwankar who quit the IAS to start a food-processing business.

Photograph: Arun Patil