New Delhi: Karnataka DGP Praveen Sood was appointed as the new director of the CBI on Sunday for a period of 2 years. Praveen Sood’s name was finalised by a high-level committee comprising the Prime Minister, the Chief Justice of India, and the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha.
Praveen Sood is a 1986-batch IPS officer of the Karnataka cadre. The CBI Director is selected by a committee consisting of the Prime Minister, the CJI, and the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha for a fixed term of two years. The tenure can be extended up to five years.
According to the information, apart from Praveen Sood, two other names were selected for the post, but finally, the name of the DGP of Karnataka was stamped. Apart from Praveen Sood, the names of senior IPS officers from Delhi and other states were discussed. These include Sudhir Saxena (DGP, Madhya Pradesh) and Taj Haasan.
The fixed tenure of two years of the current CBI Director, Subodh Kumar Jaiswal, is ending on May 25. As per reports, 1986 batch IPS officer Praveen Sood was the frontrunner for the post.
Sood hit the headlines in March when Karnataka Congress chief DK Shivakumar accused him of protecting the BJP government in the state. Shivakumar sought the arrest of the state’s Director General of Police, claiming that he was registering cases against Congress leaders.
Sources said possible candidates for appointment as the new Central Vigilance Commissioner and Member Lokpal were also discussed during the meeting.
