PM Narendra Modi to chair high-powered panel to decide next CBI Chief today, check who are frontrunners?

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be chairing a high-powered committee today, on May 24, 2021 to select the next Director of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

The meeting is expected to take place today in the evening at the Prime Minister’s residence. The high-powered panel will comprise Chief Justice of India Justice NV Ramana and Leader of Opposition Adhir Ranjan Chowdhary.

Who will be considered for the post?

According to sources, the PM Modi-led committee will consider Indian Police Service (IPS) officers from four senior-most batches, 1984, 1985, 1986 and 1987 for the post of next CBI Director. 

Top Contenders:

1. Rakesh Asthana: 1984-batch IPS officer from Gujarat cadre and Director General of the Border Security Force and Director General of the Narcotics Control Bureau. He has previously served as the Special Director at the Central Bureau of Investigation.

2. YC Modi: 1984-batch IPS officer from the Assam-Meghalaya cadre and Director General of the National Investigation Agency.

3.  Subodh Jaiswal: 1985-batch IPS officer and Director General of Central Industrial Security Force.

4. Loknath Behera: 1985-batch IPS officer of Kerala cadre and Director General of Police of the Kerala Police. 

5. HC Awasthy: 1985-batch IPS officer from UP care and Uttar Pradesh police chief.

6. SS Deswal: 1985-batch IPS officer and Director General of Indo Tibetan Border Police. 

Who is the current CBI Chief?

A 1988-batch Gujrat cadre IPS officer, Praveen Sinha is currently holding the position of acting CBI chief after the term of former CBI Director Rishi Kumar Shukla ended on February 3, 2021.

Sinha, who is the CBI Additional Director, will continue to hold the position of acting director till the committee appoints the next CBI chief. 

Rishi Kumar Shukla was appointed as CBI Director on February 4, 2019, after the incumbent CBI Director Alok Verma was removed by the government following a spar with his deputy Rakesh Asthana.