Panel will meet to pick CBI Director: PMO to Kharge

Adayaftercongressleaderinlok Sabhamallikarjunkhargeshotoff a strongly worded letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, objecting to the manner in which IPS officer Rakesh Asthana was given additional charge as CBI Director, the Prime Minister’s Office on Thursday responded to the letter.

Kharge told The Indian Express that he has received a letter from Minister of State in the PMO Jitendra Singh in which the latter has stated that the government is seeking time from the Chief Justice of India for convening a meeting of the selection committee. They have said that they will shortly call a meeting, he said.

Kharge said the government has said that Asthana’s appointment was an interim arrangement and Special Director R K Dutta, the senior most officer in CBI, was sent to Home Ministry because of some “urgent work.” Sources said the government has also asked Kharge to specify a convenient date after December 16 for convening the meeting to select a new CBI Director.

Objecting to the manner in which Asthana has been given “additional charge” as CBI Director, Kharge had on Wednesday accused the government of trying to “manipulate” and“vitiate”theselectionprocess.

Kharge had written a strongly worded letter to PM