Just a day after the Karnataka Assembly elections result, IPS officer and DGP of Karnataka Mr. Praveen Sood was sent on central deputation for two years. A 1986 batch officer, Mr. Sood replaced Subodh Kumar Jaiswal as the Director, CBI. His tenure will be of two years. Prime Minister Narendra Modi led search and selection committee shortlisted Mr. Sood along with two other officers. Chief Justice Of India DY Chandrachud and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chaudhury were also part of this committee.
He will replace in CBI. Former Mumbai police commissioner Mr. Jaiswal is a 1985 batch IPS of Maharashtra cadre whose term in CBI will end on 25th May. Mr. Sood’s appointment is for two years.
Besides Sood, the other shortlisted candidates included Madhya Pradesh DGP Sudhir Saxena, a 1987-batch IPS officer and the 1987-batch Punjab cadre Dinkar Gupta who is currently serving as Director National Investigation Agency (NIA).
According to highly placed sources, the Government was in favour of granting an extension to Mr Jaiswal but the move was vehemently opposed both by the CJI and the opposition leader. The CJI wanted the seniority to be maintained and that clinched the deal for Mr Sood.
FEUD WITH A CONGRESS LEADER
It could be an aside that the CM aspirant from the Congress party in Karnataka Mr. D K Shivkumar had accused then DGP Mr. Sood of favouring the BJP and vowed to take action against him once his party comes to power. He had also abused Mr. Sood recently calling him ‘Nalayak’. According to him, 25 cases were registered against the Congress party leaders and none against the BJP during his tenure as the DGP.
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet on Sunday appointed Karnataka Director General of Police Praveen Sood as the new Director of the Central Bureau of Investigation for a period of two years. His appointment was notified through an order by the Union Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Government of India.
“Approval of the Competent Authority, is hereby conveyed to the appointment of Praveen Sood, IPS-86 batch, as Director, CBI for a period of two years from the date of assumption of charge of the office vice Subhodh Kumar Jaiswal, consequent upon completion of his tenure,” the order read.
AWARD WINNING OFFICER
An engineering graduate from the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, Sood is a 1986-batch IPS officer. Hailing from Himachal Pradesh, Sood, was served as Police Commissioner of Mysore from 2004 to 2007. He was shifted as Police the Commissioner of Bengaluru where he launched much acclaimed programmes like “Namma 100” an “Emergency Response System” for the citizens in distress, the “Suraksha” App and “Pink Hoyasala” managed by all-women cops, especially for the women and children in distress.
He was appointed Karnataka DGP in 2020, superseding 1985-batch IPS officer Ashit Mohan Prasad. His earlier postings include Superintendent of Police, Bellary and Raichur before getting posted to Bangalore city as Deputy Commissioner of Police, Law and Order. He also worked as Principal Secretary of Home Department; ADGP, Karnataka State Reserve Police and ADGP, Administration.
Multiple award-winning officer Mr. Sood started his career as Assistant SP of Mysore. Since then he has served as police chief of many districts including Bellary and Raichur. He also served as DCP of Bengaluru and commissioner of Mysore. The officer who also gave his service as Principal Secretary, State Home Department is known for his work in traffic, against terrorism, and safety of women. For his work he was honoured by Chief Minister’s Gold Medal for excellence in service in 1996. In 2002 he was awarded with Police Medal for Meritorious Service and President’s Police Medal for Distinguished Service in 2011.
