The Narendra Modi government on Thursday appointed Alok Kumar Verma, currently Delhi’s Police Commissioner, as Director of the Central Bureau of Investigation. The 1979-batch IPS officer has never served the premier agency in the past.
“The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the appointment of Mr. Verma as the new CBI chief for a period of two years,” said an official spokesperson.
The decision was taken at a meeting of a high-power panel comprising Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chief Justice of India J.S. Khehar and leader of the largest Opposition party in Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday.
“I had given a note saying that the new CBI chief should be a person with a long experience in the CBI, Lok Ayukta or handling corruption cases, and that is my contention,” Mr. Kharge told The Hindu . “The Delhi Special Police Establishment Act says clearly that the appointee should have seniority, merit and long experience in dealing with corruption cases.”
The government had on Tuesday informed the Supreme Court that it might settle the issue of the next CBI Director by the next hearing on Friday. The apex court was hearing a PIL petition by the non-governmental organisation, Common Cause, challenging the transfer of the then CBI second-in-command R.K. Dutta to the Union Home Ministry and the appointment of Gujarat cadre 1984-batch IPS officer Rakesh Asthana as the interim chief.
The post fell vacant on December 2 last year when Anil Sinha retired, after which Mr. Asthana was given additional charge as CBI Director.
Mr. Verma has earlier held the post of Director-General of Tihar Central Jail. He has also served as DGP in Puducherry and Mizoram. The IPS officer served in the Delhi police in various capacities and had a five-year stint with the Intelligence Bureau.
