Gujarat cadre IPS Rakesh Asthana gets additional charge as CBI Director

File photo: Rakesh Asthana as Surat Police Commissioner

 

New Delhi: CBI Director Anil Sinha today retired from the post handing over the baton to his second-in-command, Gujarat-cadre IPS officer Rakesh Asthana, as the government did not name any full-time chief.

Asthana, a Gujarat-cadre officer of 1984-batch, got elevated as the second-in-command in CBI two days ago when Special Director R K Dutta, who was among the frontrunners for the top post, was shifted to the Home Ministry as a Special Secretary. The post of second special secretary was created for the first time in the ministry.

It is the first time in last 10 years, that no new CBI chief has been named to succeed an incumbent. Sinha completed his two-year tenure today.

“The competent authority has approved assignment of additional charge of the post of Director, Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), to Rakesh Asthana, IPS (GJ: 1984), Additional Director, CBI with effect from the date of relinquishment of charge by Anil Kumar Sinha, IPS (BH:1979) on completion of his tenure with immediate effect and until further orders,” an order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training said.

The CBI chief is selected through a collegium comprising the Prime Minister, the Leader of Opposition or largest party in opposition in Lok Sabha and the Chief Justice of India. The collegium has not been able to meet.

60-year-old Sinha took charge of the agency when it was earning sobriquet of “caged parrot” and “closure bureau of investigation” and he managed to steady the ship by keeping away from media and ensuring a low profile with limited social circle.

Sinha proved to be a soft-spoken yet assertive leader for the agency who guided investigation in a number of important cases like the Sheena Bora murder case and Vijay Mallya loan default case.

In Mallya’s case, Sinha ensured that a case is registered against the flamboyant liquor baron for his alleged default of loans extended to his now-defunct Kingfisher Airlines even though banks did not approach CBI with a complaint.

He directed his teams to explore role of media baron Peter Mukerjea in the Sheena Bora murder case after the agency was handed over the investigation.

Sinha ensured that CBI rigorously follows cases of piling of Non-performing Assets in public sector banks even though banks were reluctant to initiate a probe in these cases fearing loss of possible middle path which can be arrived at through discussions with defaulters.

Sinha, an alumnus of Jawaharlal Nehru University where he studied during the first decade of its inception, follows his interests in psychology and economics and loves to spend a quiet time with his family.

 

 

About Mr. Rakesh Asthana

Shri Rakesh Asthaana, an IPS Officer of 1984 Batch (Gujarat Cadre) took over as Additional Director in the Central Bureau of Investigation, New Delhi in April 2016.  Before joining CBI, he served as Additional Director General (Armed Units), Gujarat.

 Addl.Director CBI

       Shri Asthaana has earlier held several important positions in his State Cadre such as Commissioner of Police, Surat City, Vadodara City; Joint Commissioner of Police, Ahmedabad City; IGP, Vadodara Range; DIG, CID(Crime); SP and DCP. He has been associated with the investigation of a number of sensitive cases, including a large number of trap cases and Disproportionate Assets Cases against corrupt public servants, that ended in conviction.

       He has also served as DIG & SP in CBI at Patna, Ranchi & Dhanbad from 1992 to 2002.

 

       Shri Rakesh Asthaana is a Post Graduate in History and Diploma in Business Management.  He has been decorated with the Police Medal for Meritorious Service in 2001 and the President’s Police Medal for Distinguished service in 2009.

 

With inputs from PTI