The first woman Indian Police Service officer in the country Kiran Bedi has sought voluntary retirement.

In her application to the Union Home Ministry submitted a few weeks ago, the Director of Bureau of Police Research and Development has cited pursuant of "strong academic and social interest" as the reason for quitting the service.

The application is now under the consideration of the ministry.

"A few weeks ago, I submitted my application for VRS. I have not received any reply in this regard," Bedi told PTI.

The 1972 batch IPS officer said so far she had worked within the system to reform it, "but from now onwards I will work from outside."

Asked if she was upset with the government's reluctance to keep its reported promise to accommodate her in a top position in a paramilitary force, she said, "That is not the case. My desire to work from outside the system made me take this decision."

Bedi had gone on a "protest" leave in July after Y S Dadwal was appointed as Delhi police commissioner superseding her.

Asked how long the processing of her application will take, Bedi said if the government decides it can do so in a day.

"That's what happened in the case of former Delhi police chief K K Paul. His application was processed in a day and he was able to join the Union Public Service Commission," she claimed.

Bedi refused to comment on whether she would join politics. Sources in BPRD said she was not attending office for the last 10 days. "Normally she discusses everything with us. We are surprised at this move," a senior BPRD officer said.