Patna: Senior officer Rajiv Ranjan of the Central Bureau of Investigation has come into focus after being assigned to lead the probe into the alleged rape and murder of a NEET aspirant in Jehanabad, a case that has drawn public attention and scrutiny over the initial investigation. Ranjan recently visited the victim’s home with his team and spoke with family members as part of the inquiry.
A 2005-batch IPS officer currently serving as Joint Director (IG) for Bihar and Jharkhand in the agency, Ranjan is originally from Rohtas district in Bihar. He previously served in the CBI from October 2011 to October 2018 and returned for a second tenure in November 2023. Before this posting, he held positions in the Anti-Corruption Branch in Kolkata and Bhubaneswar and also served extensively in the Central Reserve Police Force, where he led security deployments at major religious sites and supervised anti-terror operations in Jammu and Kashmir. He received the President’s Police Medal in 2025 for distinguished service.
Ranjan has handled several high-profile investigations. He played a key role in the fodder scam probe that resulted in the conviction of RJD chief Lalu Yadav. He is also overseeing investigations related to the IRCTC and land-for-jobs cases involving members of the Yadav family, including Rabri Devi and Tejashwi Yadav. In another major case, he led the probe into the Saradha chit fund scandal in West Bengal, which intensified political pressure on Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. He also exposed an illegal mining operation in Jharkhand’s Sahibganj region.
The current case presents a fresh challenge. The student died on January 11, and the state government requested a federal probe on January 31. The CBI formally took over on February 12. During their first visit on February 15, investigators questioned the victim’s parents and brother separately and collected personal belongings, including books and clothes, for forensic analysis. They also asked about the mobile phones of the victim’s father and brother, which relatives said were damaged and had been sent for repair. Officers instructed the family to submit them once fixed.
Earlier findings by the state SIT had drawn criticism after initial claims suggested no sexual assault. However, the post-mortem reportedly indicated injuries consistent with assault, and forensic analysis detected sperm traces on the victim’s undergarments. DNA samples from acquaintances and relatives were collected but did not match, leaving the perpetrator unidentified so far. The investigation now rests with the central agency.
Ranjan’s track record includes involvement in several complex and sensitive cases, though not all federal probes have resulted in convictions. Among notable examples are the 1999 Shilpi-Gautam case transferred to the CBI by then chief minister Rabri Devi, the Navruna Chakravarti kidnapping case investigated following orders of the Supreme Court of India, and the Brahmeshwar Mukhiya murder case, in which a chargesheet was filed in 2023 and trial proceedings are ongoing.
Officials say the latest investigation will focus on reconstructing the sequence of events, verifying forensic evidence, and identifying those responsible for the crime.
