“He was a thorough professional and always smiling. He reached the pinnacle of his career having served as CBI director, DGP and governor. It is very unfortunate that he is no more,” said former CBI director A.P. Singh, condoling the death of former CBI director Ashwani Kumar.
Kumar, an IPS officer of the 1973 batch of Himachal Pradesh cadre, was found hanging in his Shimla home. A short suicide note has been left behind, causing shock and grief in the CBI fraternity.
Kumar is learnt to have been suffering from disease and disability, said police officials.
The CBI held a condolence meeting for its former director on Thursday evening with the agency sleuths gathering at its headquarters to recollect the work and times of the former chief.
Rishi Kumar Shukla, director, CBI, said, "Our heartfelt emotions are with the bereaved family in this moment of profound tragedy. May his soul rest in peace".
Kumar had taken over as the director of CBI on August 2, 2008 during the UPA government and retired on November 30, 2010. He was the 24th director of CBI after its formation in 1963.
His tenure was full of action and his contemporaries and juniors remember him as a daring officer who handled some crucial investigations, including Sohrabuddin fake encounter case in which Amit Shah was among the accused. Shah, who was arrested then, has since been acquitted of all charges.
Kumar also investigated the controversial Aarushi Talwar case .
The e-CBI director also drew attention when he was appointed governor by the Congress-led government, a tenure that was short lived as he had to leave Raj Bhawan when the NDA came to power in 2014. Kumar served as the governor of Nagaland from March 21, 2013 to June 27, 2014 and also took additional charge of governor of Manipur from July 23 , 2013 to December 31, 2013.
Before joining as director, CBI, Kumar was director general of police, Himachal Pradesh, for over two years. During his tenure of six years from 2001-2006 as joint director and additional director in CBI, Kumar had worked as joint director (north) looking after the states of Punjab, Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. He also worked as joint director, Policy, Coordination and Interpol.
Later, he was elevated to the rank of additional director and was given the charge of Anti-corruption Wing.
He was decorated with Police Medal for Meritorious Service in 1989 and President’s Police Medal for Distinguished Service in 1999.
Another CBI officer recalled that Kumar was sharp and aware and these traits made him a good investigator who took the CBI investigations to a level of high credibility. He was never ruffled in the toughest of cases, said an officer .
While in the Himachal Pradesh cadre, Kumar held the post of IG and DIG Vigilance, Shimla from 1995 till 2000. Before that, he was DIG, CID and DIG Range, Shimla, from 1991 onwards. He was the district superintendent of police in Shimla, Solan, Lahaul and Spiti. He also held the posts of deputy director and assistant director in the Special Protection Group, New Delhi from 1985 to 1990.
Born in 1950, Kumar completed PhD, post graduation in business administration, post graduate diploma in human resources and post graduate degree in defence studies.
He had received Special Duty Medal with Bar for his services in 1979 and 1980 besides appreciation from the prime minister of India, Union home minister and the minister of state (personnel and public grievances).
After retirement, Kumar had devoted his time in the field of academics and taught management studies.