Government goes ahead to appoint Special CBI Director, draws BJP criticism

NEW DELHI: Government has set afoot its plans to appoint a Special Director in the CBI and the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) has called a meeting on April 28 to finalise the name for the post, a move criticised by the main opposition BJP.

Chief Vigilance Commissioner Pradeep Kumar has called a meeting of Vigilance Commissioners and CBI Director Ranjit Sinha on Monday next to finalise the name of a Special Director in the probe agency, official sources said.

The Department of Personnel and Training, which has administrative control over the CBI, has recommended only one name -- Prakash Mishra, who is presently the Director General of Police, Odhisa.

Mishra, a 1977 batch IPS officer, has served in the CBI as well as National Investigation Agency (NIA).

There are two posts of Special Director in the CBI, of which one is lying vacant for past eight months after the retirement of Special Director K Saleem Ali. At present, Anil Sinha is the only Special Director in the agency.

The Government has been criticised by the Opposition BJP for hurrying in making appointments to the top posts, like appointment of Lokpal and naming the new Army Chief.

BJP leader Ravishankar Prasad today questioned why the government seems to be in a tearing hurry to make the appointments.

"What is the rationale behind appointing a CBI Special Director barely 22 days ahead of Lok Sabha results," Prasad said.

He wondered if Congress Party was trying to cover its alleged misdeeds by making appointments at such senior level.

The BJP had already raised the issue of appointment of Lokpal and naming the new Army Chief.