The IPS who probed Unnao and Hathras gang rape cases promoted to the rank of additional director in CBI

By Vivek Shukla

Sampat Meena, a 1994 batch IPS officer from Jharkhand cadre has been promoted to the rank of additional director in Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). Though she is still serving as Joint Director (administration) in the department. She is likely to get new posting soon.

Meena came on deputation to CBI on September 21, 2017. After completing the deputation period of five years in September 2022, she further got two years extension till September 21, 2024. During this period she was made joint director in 2019 and then again got promoted to the rank of additional director July 2023.

Who is Sampat Meena?

Meena, a dynamic police officer, belongs to an IAS and IPS family of Jolanda village in Rajasthan's Sawaimadhopur district. Her father Ratan Lal Meena is also a retired IPS while her husband Surendra Singh is a 1993 batch IAS office of Jharkhand cadre. Singh, a metallurgical engineering, is also on central deputation working as additional secretary in social justice and empowerment department. Meena's uncle Teeka Ram Meena, a 1988 batch Kerala cadre officer has held various important positions including Chief Electoral Officer (CEO).

Surendra Singh, additional secretary, social justice and empowerment

Claim to fame

A strict and dedicated police personnel, Sampat Meena has been awarded with President's police medal for her distinguished services in 2021. She has also been a recipient of chief minister's award in 2000 while in 2013 she was awarded with police medal for her services in state government.

Meena hogged the lime light while handling the Unnao Gang rape case. She played a crucial role in the prosecution of main accused BJP MLA Kuldeep Sengar who is lodged in jail.

Meena also supervised the infamous Hathras gang rape case in which a 19-year old girl was brutally beaten up, gang raped with her mutilated tongue. She later died in the hospital. Meena and her team probed the case and On December 19, 2020, CBI filed a chargesheet in a special court in Hathras, invoking gang rape and murder charges along with charges under SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act, against the four accused, who are lodged in jail.

A sensitive woman officer, Meena is known to champion the cause social policing with issues related to women and children.