Who Is Rajasthan SDM Kajal Meena? Once A RAS Topper, Now Arrested For Taking Rs 60,000 Bribe

Last Updated:April 17, 2026, 17:16 IST

ACB arrested SDM Kajal Meena, her reader Dinesh Kumar Saini, and senior assistant Praveen Dhakad.

Rajasthan SDM Kajal Meena, once celebrated as a Rajasthan Administrative Services (RAS) topper, has now been arrested in a bribery case. The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) arrested Meena along with two members of her staff in Karauli district for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 60,000 in connection with a land dispute.

According to reports, SDM Kajal Meena, her reader Dinesh Kumar Saini, and senior assistant Praveen Dhakad were caught red-handed in Nadoti town while allegedly accepting the bribe for issuing a final decree related to a land dispute.

ACB Director General Govind Gupta said that a complaint had been received alleging that the accused initially demanded Rs 1 lakh from the complainant to process the land decree, later reducing the demand to Rs 50,000. After verifying the complaint, an ACB team from Sawai Madhopur laid a trap.

The team allegedly caught the trio while they were accepting Rs 60,000 — Rs 50,000 purportedly meant for the SDM and Rs 10,000 for the reader. During the operation, officials also recovered Rs 4 lakh in cash from a bag carried by the accused.

Who is Kajal Meena?

Meena is a 2024-batch Rajasthan Administrative Service (RAS) officer who topped the exam in the ST category. Before becoming an RAS officer, she pursued a B.Tech in Electrical Engineering from IIT Mandi. This was reportedly her first posting.

Following the incident, a video of her mock interview—where she spoke about her aim “to bring positive change in people’s lives"—has gone viral.

Her arrest has sparked widespread reactions, especially on social media, with users pointing to the stark contrast between her earlier image and the current allegations.

The ACB has registered a case under the Prevention of Corruption Act, and further investigation is underway.

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