Deputy National security Advisor Nehchal Sandhu resigns

NEW DELHI: Deputy National security Advisor Nehchal Sandhu today resigned and his resignation was accepted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Sandhu, who was former Director Intelligence Bureau, resigned owing to "personal reasons".

A brief statement issued by the PMO said Sandhu has resigned as Deputy National Security Advisor and Secretary of National Security Council Secretariat with effect from 31 July 2014 for personal reasons.

The "Prime Minister accepted his resignation with regret and expressed appreciation for Sandhu`s outstanding service to the country in a career spanning over 40 years - as a police officer, Director of Intelligence Bureau and Deputy National Security Advisor," it said.

63-year-old Sandhu, a 1973 batch IPS officer of Bihar cadre, took over as Deputy National Security Adviser and Secretary in NSCS on March 21, 2013.

Sandhu was appointed to the post by the previous UPA government for a period of three years.