Why the new CBI boss, Praveen Sood, and Karnataka Congress chief Shivakumar are at loggerheads

D K Sivakumar, one of two people who could become Karnataka's next Chief Minister, has been at loggerheads with Praveen Sood, recently appointed as the new chief of the Central Bureau of Investigation. Sood is currently the Director General of Police (DGP) of Karnataka.

Sood and Sivakumar have been at odds since the Congress has been on the campaign trail in the southern state. In the latest incident, the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) Chief called the DGP 'nalayak' and vowed to take action against him once his party was voted into power.

Earlier this year, in March, Shivakumar had alleged that the DGP was favouring the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the state.


He leveled allegations against the police chief, saying that around 25 cases were registered against Congress leaders and none against BJP leaders while he was the head of the Karnataka Police.

On Sunday, Sood was appointed as the director of the CBI after his name was finalised in a meeting of high power committee comprising of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and Leader of Opposition Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury.

Sood joined the Indian Police Service (IPS) in 1986 and started his career in Mysore as Assistant Superintendent of Police in 1989. He later served as Superintendent of Police, Bellary and Raichur before being posted in Bengaluru as Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP).