Two of the most experienced women officers in the CBI have been posted to investigate the sensational rape and murder of a trainee doctor in Kolkata. This comes after nationwide outrage and protest over the shocking incident at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.
Headed by additional CBI Director Sampat Meena, the team of 25 members shall investigate. To handle such a high-profile case will certainly not be new for Meena, who went against the tide in the 2020 Hathras rape-murder case and the 2017 Unnao rape case. With her experience and reputation for exploring all leads in a case investigated by her, she will be the most suitable person to be at the helm of such an investigation of a sensitive and critical case.
She is helped by Additional Superintendent of Police Seema Pahuja, who boasts a commendable record in criminal investigation. Pahuja was also in the CBI team that conducted probes into the Hathras Dalit woman gang-rape case in which four upper-caste men had raped a 19-year-old. Hers was a matter of national outrage with people coming out in hordes witnessing justice for her. In the Kolkata case too, Pahuja heads the investigation at ground level to have each and everything probed minutely.
A Legacy Of Justice
Both Meena and Pahuja are known to have experience with sensitive cases in the past. Meena, since 1994, has been playing an active role as a police officer in the Jharkhand cadre. Pahuja’s reputation for being bright and hardworking with investigations is what earned her gold in excellent investigation twice within the years 2007 to 2018.
Pahuja’s resolve to serve the cause of justice came to the fore when she decided to continue her career in the face of voluntary retirement as a quest for family responsibilities called. Her perseverance paid off when she netted a conviction in the rape-cum-murder of one Class 10 student in Himachal Pradesh – an incident that had sent shockwaves across the entire state. A 16-year-old girl was gang-raped and murdered in 2017 in Kotkhai, Shimla. The consequent investigation led to the punishment of a woodcutter to life in jail in 2021.
High Stakes In Kolkata
Now the Kolkata case is gaining both public attention and that of the CBI as well, with everybody expecting that these two seasoned officers will pull the hood out of the real truth behind the heinous crime. Such tragedy served as an alarm for the prompt and transparent process of investigations in the crimes which can be related to violence against women, thus under the leadership of Meena and Pahuja, justice can be expected.
