India
Rao was the first officer in Odisha to use DNA fingerprinting in crime investigation while probing a rape case in Jagatsinghpur district in 1996
New Delhi: In a major twist to the CBI infighting over bribery allegations, CBI director Alok Verma and special director Rakesh Asthana have been asked to go on leave till the matter is resolved.
CBI joint director Nageshwar Rao will take interim charge of the investigation agency, a government order stated.
Also read: Why is the CBI fighting the CBI? MyNation explains
The order read, "The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved that during the period of the subsistence of the aforesaid interim measure, cited in reference above, Shri M Nageshwar Rao, IPS, presently working as Joint Director, CBI shall look after duties and functions of Director CBI and shall take over duties and functions with immediate effect".
Who is M Nageshwar Rao?
• Mannem Nageshwar Rao is an IPS officer of the Odisha cadre.
• His first posting was as a Sub-Divisional Police Officer in Odisha's Talcher in 1989-90, where he demonstrated his tough-cop qualities.
• Rao played an active role in releasing the lodhas, a de-notified criminal tribe in Mayurbhanj district, from the vicious cycle of 'crime-police-courts-jail-crime'.
• He was the first officer in Odisha to use DNA fingerprinting in crime investigation while probing a rape case in Jagatsinghpur district in 1996.
• Rao served as the head of the Odisha Fire Service.
• Rao received a chief minister's award for his work during cyclones Phailin in 2013 and Hudhud in 2014.
• He is the recipient of the President's Police Medal for Meritorious Service, President's Police Medal for Distinguished Service, Special Duty Medal, and Odisha Governor's Medal.
Read Exclusive COVID-19 Coronavirus News updates, at MyNation.