The Centre, on Tuesday, appointed 1985 batch IPS officer Subodh Kumar Jaiswal as director of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). An order issued by the department of personnel and training said the appointment committee of cabinet has appointed Jaiswal, belonging to Maharashtra cadre, as the CBI director for a period of two years from the date of assumption of charge of the office.
The order also specified that Jaiswal’s appointment is based on the panel recommendation of the high powered select committee.
The appointment of Jaiswal is being welcomed by his peers, who feel that the government has gone for an officer of high integrity and avoided any controversy in the selection this time.
Battling the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic and the resultant image hit, the fact that the Modi government did not take any chances this time in pushing for a particular officer, especially in the middle of its tenure, is being seen as realisation within the political circles that it is time to play safe.
Jaiswal will hold charge till 2023.
Subosh Jaiswal, who was heading the CISF till now, is known in police circles as a favourite of National Security Officer Ajit Doval. A former DGP of Maharashtra, Jaiswal was first considered for the post of Commissioner of Police in Delhi, but sources said he was hesitant given the political tussle of the police in the national capital. Ever since he came to Delhi on central deputation, his peers felt he was being groomed for a bigger job.
It was felt he had the capability to head the country's external intelligence agency, R&AW, having nearly a decade of experience in the spy agency. The spy community isn’t surprised by his appointment.
As the rigmarole of the technicalities of the high powered selection committee ended late Monday evening, the ball was back in the court of the Modi government on Tuesday, who was keen to take a final call soon.
However, the quick decision is also learnt to have also been prodded by Chief Justice of India N.V. Ramana who is said to have told the government that he did not want any controversy regarding the appointment of the CBI chief. It was during the removal of then director Alok Verma by the select panel in 2019 that the CJI found himself in an awkward position after having been in the selection committee that chose Verma.
The political leadership was biding time this time by allowing a delay till the senior batch of 1984 IPS officers of Rakesh Asthana and Y.C. Modi were at the fag end of their tenures, said a CBI official.
Jaiswal’s appointment on Tuesday came after both the Chief Justice of India and leader of Congress in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury technically agreed on three names—1985 batch IPS officers Subodh Jaiswal, K.R. Chandra and 1986 batch officer V.S.K. Kaumudi. The short listing of three officers meant that the prime minister could approve one among the three names.
Meanwhile, Asthana is retiring on July 31 and Y.C. Modi on May 31. Speculation is rife that the government may compensate its ''soon to retire'' officers with tenures in NIA and Central Vigilance Commission.
