Intelligence agencies, CBI to have new chiefs by month-end

NEW DELHI: The Central Bureau of Investigation, Intelligence Bureau, Research & Analysis Wing and National Technical Research Organisation will have new chiefs by the end of this month.

While the name of Mr Nehchal Sandhu, a 1973 IPS officer of Bihar cadre, has been finalised for IB director, Aviation Research Centre (ARC) chief Sanjiv Tripathi will take over as RAW chief from K C Verma who will move to NTRO ahead of his retirement.

A panel comprising CBI special director A P Singh, National Investigative Agency chief S C Sinha and CISF director-general N R Das has been forwarded to the PMO for selection of the next CBI head. With incumbent Ashwini Kumar due to retire on November 30, the name of the new CBI director will be known in a few days.

Special director and current no. 2 in IB, Mr Sandhu will be the new director of IB when Mr Rajiv Mathur retires. Mr Sandhu was the clear choice as he has a deep understanding of intelligence matters.

RAW chief K C Verma will shift to NTRO two months before his fixed term ends on January 31, 2011. This will clear the way for ARC chief Sanjiv Sinha — who had missed out on becoming the agency chief when his boss and mentor Ashok Chaturvedi retired as R&AW director in 2009 — to take over the reins of the intelligence agency.

In the normal course, Mr Tripathi would have retired on December 30, scuttling his chances of becoming R&AW chief as Mr Verma’s term ends only on January 31, 2011. By advancing the changeover in R&AW’s top slot to November, Mr Tripathi will get to serve as director for a fixed two-year term.

With CBI now investigating the 2G spectrum scandal, the choice of the agency’s director is crucial. While Mr A P Singh is a 1974 batch IPS officer from Jharkhand cadre, Mr S C Sinha belongs to 1975 batch, Haryana cadre. Mr Das, a 1973 batch IPS officer of West Bengal cadre, is at present heading the Central Industrial Security Force.

In case Mr Sinha is named CBI chief, a vacancy will arise in NIA as well. Alternatively, the selection of Mr Das will leave the top slot in CISF vacant.