Delhi police commissioner Alok Verma new CBI chief

New Delhi, January 17

The Centre on Thursday appointed Delhi Police Commissioner and senior IPS officer Alok Verma as new chief of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), an official said.

The CBI director is chosen by a Selection Committee comprising the Prime Minister, Chief Justice of India and Leader of Opposition or leader of the largest party in opposition in Lok Sabha.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved the appointment of Verma as the new director of CBI for a period of two years.

The post of CBI director was lying vacant for over one month following Anil Sinha's retirement on December 2.

This development comes despite the objection by the Congress that officers who have a background of CBI or vigilance should be given preference.

Verma, a 1979-batch IPS officer of Arunachal Pradesh-Goa-Mizoram and Union Territories (AGMUT) cadre, took charge as the Delhi Police Commissioner in February last year and was to hold the post till July 2017.

Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge had earlier asserted that the selection of the candidate for the post of CBI director must be done on basis of merit and seniority.

Kharge who is also a part of three-member committee formed for electing the new CBI chief had told ANI, "The law says that selection must be made according merit, experience and seniority. Our issue is people who have worked for the CBI, vigilance, Lokayukta should be given preference."

With the government pushing for Verma's name, according to reports, a difference in opinion was formed with the Congress citing inexperience as the reason for former's appointment to the coveted post.

The Supreme Court, in its ruling, directed the government to appoint the CBI director by January 16.

The Supreme Court gave its order while hearing a petition last month challenging the appointment of Gujarat-cadre officer Rakesh Asthana as the interim CBI chief.  — Agencies