NDA blocks UPA decision on two CBI men

NEW DELHI: In a curious move, the home ministry on Monday withdrew clearance of two IPS officers for extension in CBI minutes before Central Vigilance Commission was to clear their names for extension in the agency.

The proposal of 1984 batch Javeed Ahmed, who looks after the crucial policy division of CBI, and Ashok Tiwari, a 1993 batch IPS officer looking after Delhi zone in the agency, was cleared by the home ministry last month when UPA was in power, official sources said.

Both officers had completed their five-year central deputation and the agency as well as the officers had requested an extension of two years. The CVC meeting was a mere formality on Monday as it had agreed earlier to grant extension to these two officers as home ministry had even given "cadre clearance" for the same, sources said.

However, as the meeting was convened on Monday, home secretary Anil Goswami informed the CVC that the order giving cadre clearance to the two officers stood withdrawn with immediate effect, sources said. Ahmed had led the investigation in the Aarushi-Hemraj murder case which led to the conviction of the Talwar couple.

According to rules, an IPS officer can have a deputation of seven years in CBI but an extension has to be sought after completion of five years. Ahmed's five-year tenure will end on June 12. After getting a 'no objection certificate' from the UP government in March, the central government had given him cadre clearance in May.

However, the about-turn by the home ministry will ensure that joint director (policy) Ahmed will have to go back to his parent UP cadre. The empanelment of his batch of IPS officers as additional director general rank officers in central services was also scheduled early this year. However, the file of entire 1984-batch has been held back by senior home ministry officials despite 'no objection certificate' being received from UP government.