CBI addl director YC Modi to take over as NIA chief
MHA HAS ALSO CLEARED THE APPOINTMENT OF RAJNI KANTH MISHRA, ADDITIONAL DIRECTOR GENERAL, BSF, AS THE NEXT CHIEF OF THE SASHASTRA SEEMA BAL
NEW DELHI: Senior IPS officer YC Modi will take over as director general of National Investigation Agency (NIA) after Sharad Kumar retires on October 31.
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) approved Modi’s appointment as director general of the NIA, said an order issued by the department of personnel and training (DOPT). The ACC also approved the appointment of Modi as officer on special duty (OSD) in NIA with immediate effect to ensure a smooth takeover.
According to a home ministry order, Modi will hold the post until his superannuation on May 31, 2021, or until further orders. Modi, a 1984-batch officer of Assam-meghalaya cadre, is additional director in the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
Kumar, the longest serving chief of the NIA, who was chosen during the UPA regime in 2013, had received a two-year extension from the NDA government. Under his stewardship, the agency started probing terror financing cases allegedly involving some separatists in Jammu and Kashmir.
Kumar had to face criticism after the NIA gave clean chit to Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur in the 2008 Malegaon blast case.
Another key accused in the Hindu terror cases, Swami Aseemanand, got bail in the Mecca Masjid and Samjhauta Express blast cases, but the NIA didn't challenge the order in higher court. In Ajmer blast case, the NIA could prove charges against only three accused and six other, including Swami Aseemanand, were acquitted but the NIA is yet to challenge the order in higher court.
But the NIA received considerable success in other terror cases. The agency managed to nail Pakistan’s role in the Pathankot air base attack case and its cautious investigation into groups of Islamic State sympathisers helped the government curtail the influence of the terror group.
MHA has also cleared the appointment of Rajni Kanth Mishra, additional director general, BSF, as the next chief of the Sashastra Seema Bal. Current DG Archana Ramasundaram retires on September 30.