Subodh Jaiswal emerge front runner among three for CBI Director’s post

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New Delhi: Director General CISF Subodh Kumar Jaiswal was on Tuesday appointed a the new Director of CBI.

Jaiswal, a 1985 MH cadre IPS officer, according to an order issued by Appointments Committee of the Cabinet, has been appointed for a period of two years or until further furthers which ever is earlier.

He was among the three officers whose names were recommended for the post by the selection panel led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet. The other two officers were DG SSB R Chandra and Special Secretary (Internal Security) VSK Kaumudi.

The panel comprising Chief Justice of India NV Ramana and Leader of Opposition Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, besides PM Modi reached the consensus on these names after nearly an hour and a half long meeting on Monday evening, sources said.

However, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury gave written dissent against the selection process, saying there was no transparency over the selection and dropping of some officers. “When the meeting was convened, I was given a list of 109 officers. This had pensioners as well. This afternoon, around 1.30am, a list of 10 was shared and another list of six at 4.30pm. Along with the names, there were details of their work profile. I wanted to know on what basis these 16 names were finalised,” a national news channel quoted him as having said.

Meanwhile, sources said the CJI suggested that rule of law be followed in the appointment process. The Prakash Singh judgement was cited and it was agreed that only officers with more than six months of tenure left will be considered. This excluded officers like NIA DG YC Modi and BSF DG Rakesh Asthana, both of whom are due for retirement. Ultimately Jaiswal, Kaumudi and Chandra made the cut as senior-most officers with more than six months of tenure.

Jaiswal, 1985-batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer is currently the director general of CISF. He was the DGP of Maharashtra since February 28, 2019, and has served in SPG and RAW. Jaiswal, 58, has also extensively dealt with the Naxal issue during his tenure at Maharashtra ATS. However, he has not served in the CBI so far.

Earlier, Rishi Kumar Shukla was appointed CBI director without prior experience of working in the premier investigation agency. Jaiswal’s name recently came up in connection with the transfer-posting corruption racket that has rocked the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government in Maharashtra. BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis said the then DGP Jaiswal had raised corruption allegations in transfers with Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray.