After Hathras, women CBI officials investigate Kolkata rape-murder: Who are they?

The shocking rape and murder of a trainee doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College has drawn national attention, with the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) now at the helm of probing the gruesome case.

The country’s top investigative agency has entrusted the case to two of its most accomplished officers—Sampat Meena and Seema Pahuja. Both have previously spearheaded investigations into high-profile cases such as the 2020 Hathras rape murder and the 2017 Unnao rape, and achieved considerable success.

Meena, Additional Director of CBI, is now in charge of a team of 25 officers, and will work in a supervisory capacity while the ground-level investigations will be carried out by Pahuja, an Additional Superintendent of Police.

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The Kolkata rape-murder case had ignited nationwide fury with protestors including medical professionals taking to the streets, calling for justice and a fair probe.

With the case now being under the CBI, let’s take a look at the top officers entrusted with investigating the sensitive case.

Sampat Meena

Sampat Meena, a 1994 batch IPS officer from the Jharkhand cadre, has built a reputation as a formidable advocate for women’s issues and human rights. Her sharp acumen and dedication have earned her respect within the force.

Coming from Rajasthan’s Sawaimadhopur district, Meena’s father is a retired IPS officer, and her husband, Surendra Singh, is a 1993 batch IAS officer of the Jharkhand cadre, according to DNA.

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In August 2023, Meena was promoted to the position of additional director of CBI, having previously served as a joint director of the central agency. Her association with the CBI began in September 2017 when she came on deputation for five years, later securing a two-year extension that will last until September 2024.

Before taking on the role of CBI joint director for the Lucknow zone, Meena was Inspector General at The Bureau of Police Research & Development in New Delhi, where she played a pivotal role in combating child trafficking.

As per Deccan Chronicle, she spearheaded ‘Operation Muskaan,’ a Union home ministry initiative aimed at rescuing and rehabilitating missing children. Under her leadership as IG (Organised Crime) in Jharkhand’s CID, over 700 children were rescued and reunited with their families.

Meena’s career includes being the first woman IPS officer to serve as SSP in Ranchi. Her work extended to Naxal-affected districts of the state. She held SP positions in Dhanbad, Ranchi, Deoghar, and Jamtara, as per  DNA. In 2000, her contributions to the state were recognised with the Jharkhand Chief Minister’s Medal for meritorious service.

Beyond her work in Jharkhand, Meena led high-profile investigations, such as the infamous Hathras rape case of 2017, where a 19-year-old Dalit woman was allegedly gang-raped by four upper-caste men. The case, marked by controversies including the handling of the victim’s cremation by the Uttar Pradesh administration, eventually moved to the CBI under Meena’s direction.

She also secured a conviction in the 2017 Unnao rape case, where a 17-year-old Dalit girl was kidnapped and raped by the expelled BJP leader Kuldeep Singh Sengar, who was subsequently sentenced to life imprisonment.

In recognition of her distinguished service, Sampat Meena was awarded the President’s Police Medal in 2021.

Seema Pahuja

Seema Pahuja, an Additional Superintendent of Police in the CBI, is celebrated as one of the agency’s sharpest officers, especially in investigating complex cases under the Special Crime Unit.

According to TV9 Bharatvarsh, Pahuja’s career began in 1993 when she was recruited as a sub-inspector in the Delhi Police. Following rigorous training and years of service in the CBI’s Anti-Corruption Branch and Special Crime Unit, she was promoted to Inspector in 1998.

In 2013, she was elevated to Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), during which time she successfully tackled cases involving human trafficking, religious conversions, murders, and crimes against minors.

One of Pahuja’s most notable achievements came with the resolution of the Gudiya case in Himachal Pradesh, which had deeply shaken the hill state in 2017.

The case involved the rape and murder of a Class 10 student, whose body was discovered in a dense forest after she went missing on her way home from school. The investigation, led by Pahuja, was particularly challenging, but in April 2018, her team cracked the case using advanced DNA technology for percentage and lineage matching. After questioning over 1,000 locals and testing the DNA of more than 250 individuals, they identified a match with the father of the accused.

Anil Kumar, a woodcutter, was ultimately found guilty in the case and sentenced to life imprisonment in 2021.

According to NDTV, Pahuja’s commitment to her work was so profound that, even when she contemplated voluntary retirement due to family responsibilities, the then CBI Director convinced her to stay, assigning her to the Anti-Corruption Bureau. Her expertise was called upon again in 2017 for the Hathras gang rape case, where the use of scientific technology for investigation played a critical role in bringing the case to its conclusion.

Her outstanding contributions have not gone unnoticed; between 2007 and 2018, Pahuja was awarded two gold medals for exceptional investigative work. Known for her integrity and an unblemished career, she has consistently resisted external pressures, making her a formidable force in any investigation she undertakes.

With input from agencies