New Delhi: The Narendra Modi-led Appointments Committee on Saturday appointed Madhya Pradesh cadre Indian Police Service (IPS) officer Rishi Kumar Shukla as new director of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). He will take charge on Monday, sources confirmed. He has been selected keeping in mind his non-controversial career. Shukla is known to be close to former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. Recently, Congress's Kamal Nath had removed Shukla from his post of DGP after taking over from Chouhan.
Initially, YC Modi and BSF DG Rajini Kant Mishra were considered to be leading in the race, but their names were turned down by the Appointments Coimmittee. During the selection process, various names had popped up, including those of VK Johri, SS Deswal, Javeed Ahmed and others.
Shukla has handled multiple portfolios in his career. He was the 28th DGP of Madhya Pradesh. He had also worked in the Intelligence Bureau as a joint director. His hails from Gwalior and is an IIT alumnus.
As the CBI director, Shukla will look to reclaim the reputation and integrity of the institution that have been damaged badly after two top officers — former director Alok Verma and his deputy Rakesh Asthana — made the CBI a battleground in a fight against each other. The government later removed both the officers from the CBI. Also, Verma will have to face disciplinary action for not joining his new post of DG, Fire Services according to the government order. Meanwhile, Asthana has been appointed as DG, Bureau of Civil Aviation Security.