Four decades ago, the Gujarat Police lived under the towering shadow of their Director General of Police (DGP), Manmohan Singh. His authority was so absolute that even Inspector Generals and Deputy Inspector Generals would don their caps before answering his landline call—and yes, they saluted over the phone. In those days, there were no mobiles, only the ring of a desk phone carrying both fear and reverence.

A Season of Violence

The terror wasn’t only in the chain of command—it was on the streets too. Within days, Gujarat witnessed an unprecedented spree of political bloodshed. A Congress health minister, Vallabhbhai Patel, was stabbed to death in public; another legislator, Popatbhai Patel, was killed moments after hoisting the tricolor on Independence Day; and a third MLA, Mohammed Hussain Pirzada, was bombed in his own home. As if that wasn’t enough, communal violence erupted in Junagadh, claiming thirteen lives in Mangrol alone. DGP Singh drove across districts tirelessly, often arriving unannounced to assess the chaos firsthand.

Dilip Kumar Doppelgänger in Uniform

During one such surprise visit to Junagadh, Singh casually spotted the district SP’s photo in a local evening daily. Amused by the officer’s movie-star looks, Singh quipped, “You look exactly like Dilip Kumar. Why don’t you pose with your Saira Banu too and get it published?” The SP, needless to say, didn’t know whether to laugh or salute harder.

Morbi Mishap and the Hungry Officers

When three senior officers—posted to probe a legislator’s murder in Morbi—decided to skip proper duty for a highway dhaba meal, Singh’s radar caught them. The moment they unlaced their shoes at home, a wireless message rang: “DGP Sahib is looking for you.” They rushed back to the scene, inventing excuses about “extended investigations.” Singh, however, was not the man to be fooled.

Smuggling, Greed, and a Driver’s Revenge

The coastal belt of Gujarat was notorious for gold smuggling from Dubai. One legendary case saw officers fighting over who deserved credit for seizing a consignment, thanks to a finance ministry scheme awarding 10% of the haul’s value. But Singh’s investigation revealed the truth: it wasn’t the officers but a fisherman who caught the boat. Prize denied.

Another SP wasn’t as lucky. After seizing three sacks of gold, he declared only one to the government, pocketed another, and distributed the third among his men—excluding the driver. Furious at being denied even a biscuit of gold, the driver blew the whistle. The officer not only lost his job but was jailed for theft of government property, while the gold sent to his Uttar Pradesh village vanished forever.

When Ego Trumped Protocol

In Rajkot, when CM Chimanbhai Patel visited, a young Deputy Commissioner of Police felt sidelined as the Collector and senior officers handled security. Nursing a bruised ego, he lodged an FIR—against the District Magistrate, no less. The blame technically lay with the Police Commissioner, but in those days, bruised pride often wrote its own FIRs.

The Legend of Singh Sahib

From cap-clad salutes over phone calls to surprise raids that left officers sweating, DGP Manmohan Singh’s era in Gujarat was a mix of fear, discipline, and unforgettable anecdotes. For some, he was the iron fist of law; for others, the man who could see through every excuse. Either way, Singh Sahib’s legend still rings louder than any landline bell.