A sustainable approach for the rapid synthesis of red-emissive doped carbon dots (r-CD) from the leaves extract of an Indian medicinal plant known as Bael (Aegle marmelos) is described here. The fabrication process involves the solvent-based extraction using the mixture of ethanol:water (1:1), followed by the carbonization of extract in the domestic microwave to obtain r-CD without using extra chemical reagents. The as-prepared self doped r-CD exhibit the excitation-independent emissive profiles, importantly in the red region of visible spectrum with a high-quantum yield value of ~ 56% and good colloidal stability. The r-CD are used here as a fluorescent probe for the detection of toxic hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) ions which is considered as one of the most toxic pollutant materials. The selective sensing of Cr(VI) was performed via the method of fluorescence quenching of r-CD by Cr(VI), with lower limit of detection ~ 900 nM. Additionally, r-CD was further being evaluated as a fluorescent ink that could be used for printing and security purposes.