NEW DELHI: Decorated CBI officer Seema Pahuja will supervise the investigation into the Disha Salian case, bringing her expertise in handling sensitive criminal inquiries to this high-profile probe, sources said.

The team is set to record statements of all individuals who attended a gathering earlier that night at the Mumbai home of Rohan Roy, Disha's fiance, prior to her death on June 8, 2020.A veteran investigator, Pahuja is currently posted as an SP with the special crimes unit at the agency's headquarters in Delhi. She will be assisted by a team comprising investigating officer deputy SP Puran Kumar and others.Known for her meticulous approach and sharp forensic acumen, she has earned a formidable reputation within the investigative agency.

Her stellar track record in breaking down dense evidence trails earned her the gold medal for 'best investigating officer' in 2021.Officials who have worked with her said Pahuja has been trusted with complex, sensitive, and emotionally charged cases that capture national attention through her career. Her portfolio features pivotal roles in major investigations, including the 2024 Kolkata RG Kar rape and murder case and the 2020 Hathras case.

"In 2017, she investigated the Unnao rape case besides another incident wherein a 16-year-old girl was raped and murdered in Shimla.

The Shimla case got her widespread acclaim for using modern forensic tools to untangle a deeply challenging mystery," said an officer.Now tasked with unravelling the circumstances surrounding the 2020 death of Disha Salian, Pahuja faces a familiar territory of heavy public scrutiny.  -Rajshekhar Jha