Many names do the rounds for CBI chief

New Delhi: The Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led high-powered panel for selection of the next Director of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) will meet on Thursday and discuss probable names.

The panel meeting will be attended by Chief Justice of India Rajan Gogoi or his nominee and Congress leader in the Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge, officials said.

Among the officers likely to be under consideration at the meeting are J.K. Sharma and Parminder Rai from the 1982 batch — the senior most officers but lacking in experience in the CBI.

Mr. Rai, a Haryana-cadre officer who is set to retire on January 31, 2019, is Director General, State Vigilance Bureau, which makes him eligible for the post, the officials said.

Special Secretary (Internal Security), Home Ministry, Rina Mitra of the 1983-batch is another contender. She has served in the CBI for five years and had a long tenure in Madhya Pradesh State vigilance where she handled serious corruption cases.

Ms. Mitra headed the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau, an organisation tasked to combat organized wildlife crime, in its early years, sources said, adding that if chosen, she would be the first woman chief of the CBI.

The current chief of the National Institute of Criminology and Forensic Sciences Javeed Ahmed, a 1984-batch IPS officer of Uttar Pradesh cadre, has served the CBI for 13 years — starting as an SP to DIG from 1994 to 2002 and as joint director from 2009-14, officials said.

However, Mr. Ahmed could not be promoted to post of Additional Director as the then Home Secretary Anil Goswami did not clear the empanelment file of the entire 1984-batch IPS officers till his term came to an end, they said.

Mr. Goswami was forced to resign for trying to stall the arrest of a former Union minister in a case, they said.