Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday chaired a high-level meeting to deliberate on the appointment of the next Director of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The meeting was attended by Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi. This crucial discussion comes ahead of the scheduled completion of current CBI Director Praveen Sood’s two-year tenure on May 25.
The selection of the CBI Director is carried out based on recommendations made by a three-member committee comprising the Prime Minister, the Chief Justice of India, and the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha. The final appointment is made by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) after consensus is reached on a candidate.
Praveen Sood, a 1986-batch IPS officer of the Karnataka cadre, took over as the CBI chief on May 25, 2023. He is originally from Himachal Pradesh and previously served as the Director General of Police (DGP) in Karnataka. An alumnus of IIT Delhi, Sood was appointed for a fixed term of two years.
The committee has reportedly reviewed a shortlist of eligible officers, and a formal recommendation is expected soon. The next Director will be tasked with leading India’s premier investigative agency amid heightened expectations of institutional transparency and impartiality.
