PM Modi-Led Panel to Meet on 24 Jan to Appoint New CBI Director

A new CBI director will be selected by a committee headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

In a development which can prove to be eventful for CBI, a new CBI director will be selected by a committee which will be headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

(Photo: Altered by The Quint)

Within a week of former chief Alok Verma’s exit from Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), high-powered Selection Committee is slated to meet next on 24 January to appoint the new CBI Director.

In a development which can prove to be eventful for CBI, a new CBI director will be selected by a committee which will be headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The committee also has the Chief Justice of India and the Leader of Congress in Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge among other members.

The decision to appoint the new CBI chief was announced hours after Supreme Court on Wednesday, 16 January, agreed to hear a plea filed against M Nageshwar Rao’s appointment as interim Director of the CBI.

The plea which also sought transparency in the process of short-listing, selection and appointment of the CBI Director, will be heard next week.

The sources said the government had proposed the meeting on 21 January earlier while Kharge wanted the meeting on 24 or 25 January.

After mutual consultations, the government has finalised 24 January as the date for the meeting to select the new CBI Director, a post which is lying vacant ever since the government removed Alok Verma and appointed him as Director General Fire Service.

IPS officer M Nageswara Rao was named the interim director of the CBI.

Rahul Gandhi-led Congress party has been attacking the Prime Minister for not appointing a regular CBI Director.

Kharge had also written to PM Modi demanding early holding of the meeting of the high-powered committee to appoint a regular CBI Director.