1983-batch IPS officer Rishi Kumar Shukla appointed new CBI Director

The Centre on Saturday appointed former Madhya Pradesh Police chief Rishi Kumar Shukla as the of new Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Director. 

He has been appointed as the new director for a fixed tenure of two years from the date of assumption of charge of the office, according to an order issued by the personnel ministry.

Shukla, an IPS officer, is of the 1983 batch.

Previously, he was the Director General of Police (DGP) of Madhya Pradesh.

The 1983-batch IPS officer of Madhya Pradesh cadre is at present chairman of the Madhya Pradesh Police Housing Corporation.

He succeeds Alok Kumar Verma, who was on January 10 removed from the post. Shukla's name was short-listed during the second meeting of the selection committee held on Friday.

Earlier, Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge had raised objections on the names of three probable contenders proposed by the government. The three top contenders for the prestigious post were senior IPS officers of 1984 batch, Javeed Ahmed, Rajni Kant Misra and S S Deswal.

Kharge is a member of three-member selection panel led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The panel held its second meeting to finalise the name on Friday and it is learnt that during the meeting PM Modi put forth the names of officers who could be considered for appointment as the new chief of CBI.

While Ahmed is currently the chief of National Institute of Criminology and Forensic Sciences and an officer of Uttar Pradesh cadre, Misra is head of the Border Security Force (BSF). Deswal, who is from Haryana cadre, is the director general of Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP).

"The meeting was inconclusive. No decision could be taken during the meeting," a senior government official told PTI.

The turmoil in the CBI started after Alok Verma and his deputy, Rakesh Asthana, were sent on 'leave' by the government following an ugly public spat. 

M Nageswara Rao was appointed the interim CBI chief in January after Verma's ouster. NGO Common Cause has already filed a petition in the Supreme Court challenging Rao's appointment as the interim CBI Director. It is interesting to note that three SC judges have recused themselves from hearing this case citing various reasons.