Senior IPS officer Mr. Praveen Sood has been granted a one-year extension as Director of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), following a decision by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) on Wednesday. The move comes ahead of the completion of his original two-year tenure, which began on May 25, 2023, after he succeeded Mr. Subodh Kumar Jaiswal.
Mr. Sood, a 1986-batch IPS officer of the Karnataka cadre, was originally due to retire in 2024. Born on May 22, 1964, in Himachal Pradesh, he has served in key policing roles across Karnataka and abroad, including as Commissioner of Police in Bengaluru and Mysuru, and as Police Advisor to the Government of Mauritius from 1999 to 2002.
Mr. Sood is an alumnus of IIT Delhi, with postgraduate training in Public Policy and Management from IIM Bangalore and the Maxwell School at Syracuse University in the US. His academic and professional credentials are matched by his record in service, having received several awards including the President’s Police Medal for Distinguished Service, the Chief Minister’s Gold Medal, and international accolades such as the Prince Michael International Road Safety Award. Mr. Praveen Sood is married to Ms. Vineeta Sood. They have two daughters, one of whom, Aashita, is married to Indian cricketer Mayank Agarwal.
The decision to extend Mr. Sood’s tenure came after a high-level meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, attended by Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna and Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, Mr. Rahul Gandhi. As per sources, the committee could not arrive at a consensus on a successor, which led to the agreement on extending Mr. Sood’s tenure by a year. However, Mr. Gandhi is reported to have submitted a note of dissent against the extension.
The CBI, India’s premier investigative agency, handles cases related to corruption, economic offences, and high-profile criminal matters. The director’s appointment is a rigorous process, overseen by the ACC, which includes the Prime Minister, the Home Minister, and the Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha or a designated opposition leader. Eligible officers must have at least 30 years of service in the IPS or another All-India Service, along with substantial experience in intelligence or investigation, and a clean service record.
Established in 1963 following a recommendation from the Ministry of Home Affairs, the CBI functions under the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), within the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions. Despite its stature and powers under numerous central and state laws, the CBI is not a constitutional body.
Mr. Sood’s extension reinforces the government’s trust in his leadership during a crucial period for the agency, even as it underscores the challenges in building consensus for a successor to head one of the country’s most sensitive investigative offices.
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