Government denies extension to CBI officer probing 'Coalgate'

NEW DELHI: The Centre has shot down a CBI proposal seeking extension for its Joint Director Rajeev Sharma who is supervising probe in multi-crore coal scam.

The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has declined the proposal for extension in tenure of Sharma, a 1990-batch IPS officer of Rajasthan cadre, as Joint Director in CBI, an order issued by Department of Personnel and Training said.

Sharma is working in Economic Offences Wing of the agency and overseeing probe related to coal-block scam, cyber crime, Fake Indian Currency Notes and narcotics offences.

He was given two months extension in April this year. The CBI had sought further extension for the officer which has been declined by the government.

With this order, Sharma will have to go back to his cadre Rajasthan. "He has completed five years of central deputation and that is why he has been declined further extension in tenure," a CBI official said.