Rina Mitra, the 1983 batch IPS officer, who recently retired from the service, has become a principal advisor on internal security to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. Her new appointment came just days after she retired from the service and was denied to become the new CBI chief.
Mitra, who hails from West Bengal, was serving as a special secretary on internal security in the Home Ministry headed by Rajnath Singh, was reportedly one of the 12 officers, who were shortlisted to succeed Alok Verma.
Writing in The Telegraph earlier this month, Mitra had shared her pain on not being allowed to become the country’s first ever woman CBI chief. She had written, “Although I was handling a key position within the government dealing with internal security, which hitherto was held only by male officers, even a cosmetic but legitimate change in my designation was not heeded to unlike my male predecessors.
“To add to it, I did qualify on all parameters to be considered for selection to head the premier investigating body of the country, the CBI. As per the rules and convention of appointment to the post, I was indeed the senior-most officer fulfilling all the four essential criteria, including experience in CBI and anti-corruption.”
According to her, ‘an easily avoidable delay of just one day in the selection process ensured that I was bumped out of the race and no longer in contention.’ This, she continued, forced her to think ‘if this was indeed the last glass ceiling I encountered in my professional career.’
Born in Asansol, Mitra completed her college education from Lady Brabourne College before obtaining a Masters in Literature degree from Calcutta University. Her achievements in the police service include a Police Medal for Meritorious Service in 1999 and the President’s Medal for distinguished Service in 2008.