The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC), headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the appointment of a Gujarat-cadre IPS officer, R.K. Asthana, as Special Director in the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
Seven other IPS officers of the 1984 batch were approved for the rank of Special Directors-General in other agencies, said an ACC order issued late on Sunday night.
Not all members of the selection committee from the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) were on board regarding Mr. Asthana’s promotion, a top source told The Hindu .
Mr. Asthana is currently posted as Additional Director in the CBI. He is associated with several high-profile and politically sensitive cases registered by the CBI, including the recent case against RJD chief Lalu Prasad over alleged irregularities in awarding tender for development, maintenance and operation of hotels at Ranchi and Puri to a private company while he was the Union Railway Minister.
‘Integrity clause’ cited
According to highly placed sources privy to the selection committee meeting minutes, the meeting, chaired by Central Vigilance Commissioner K.V. Chowdary, cited some issues regarding the “integrity clause” for rejection of the proposal to promote Mr. Asthana.
The objections pertained to a recent FIR registered by the CBI.
The CBI’s Delhi unit registered the FIR on August 30 against three senior Income-Tax officials for allegedly accepting bribe from the Gujarat-based Sterling Biotech and Sandesara Group of Companies.
The FIR said a “Diary 2011” was found from the company premises during a raid which detailed the monthly payout details to the accused I-T officials and several police officials and politicians in Gujarat.
Mr. Chowdary did not respond to calls from The Hindu . He sent a text message, “My oath of secrecy does not permit me to reveal.”
‘No decision taken’
Another top official who was present in the meeting said, “Yes, the meeting did take place on Saturday but no decision was taken. Members of the committee were divided on Mr. Asthana’s promotion and we decided to meet again on Monday.”
The selection committee, chaired by the CVC, has two Vigilance Commissioners, the Home Secretary, the DoPT Secretary and the CBI Director.
