Government refuses extension to CBI officer probing 'Coalgate'

NEW DELHI: The Centre has decided against granting extension with CBI to agency Joint Director Rajeev Sharma, who is supervising probe into the multi-crore coal scam.

The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has said no to the proposal for granting of extension to Sharma, a 1990-batch IPS officer of Rajasthan cadre, as Joint Director in CBI beyond June 30, 2015, said an order issued by Department of Personnel and Training.

Sharma is attached with the Economic Offences Wing of the agency and overseeing probes related to the coal-block allocation scam, cyber crime, Fake Indian Currency Notes and narcotics offences.

He was given a two-month extension in April this year and CBI had thereafter sought further extension for the officer.

However, with this order, Sharma will have to go back to his cadre in Rajasthan.

"He (Sharma) has completed five years of central deputation and that is why he has been declined further extension of tenure," a CBI official said.