Saturday, March 29, 2025
The appointment of the next CBI Director has hit a roadblock after a high-level meeting on Monday failed to reach consensus. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna, and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi could not agree on a candidate. As a result, current Director Praveen Sood may receive a one-year extension.
According to sources, the selection committee met from 6:45 PM to 7:30 PM in New Delhi. However, no final decision was made on a new appointment. The three-member panel, led by the Prime Minister, also includes the Chief Justice of India and the Lok Sabha Opposition Leader.
This panel is responsible for recommending the CBI Director, and appointments are made based on its advice. Despite discussing several senior IPS officers, the panel did not settle on any one name.
With the current term of Praveen Sood ending on May 25, 2025, the government is pushing for a one-year extension. Sood, a 1986-batch IPS officer from the Karnataka cadre, assumed the role on May 25, 2023. Before joining the CBI, he served as the Director General of Police (DGP) in Karnataka.
Reports from The Indian Express suggest that committee members are leaning toward extending Sood’s term. However, sources indicate that Rahul Gandhi may have opposed the extension during the closed-door meeting.
Although the Ministry has not issued any formal statement, multiple media reports confirm that a unanimous decision was not achieved. The uncertainty leaves the CBI leadership in a temporary state, with Sood potentially continuing until a new consensus is built.
The situation underscores deep political differences within the selection committee. It also raises concerns about the impact of delayed appointments on the functioning of India’s premier investigative agency.
