U S Misra, director Central Bureau of Investigations, was elected vice president of the Interpol for a period of one year. The post was vacated following the resignation of the former director of CBI P C Sharma. This is the second time in a row that an Indian has been elected vice president of Interpol.

"U S Misra defeated Andrew Hughs, commissioner of Police, Fizi, by 53 votes in the election held on the concluding day of the General Assembly of Interpol at Berlin, Germany [Images]," CBI said in its press release in New Delhi on Thursday.

Incidentally, Misra is due to retire as director in December 2005. Misra got 93 votes as against 40 votes by his rival Andrew Hughs of Fizi. 

"Misra is one of the senior-most police officers in the country having 37 years of experience in various areas of policing, ranging from criminal investigation, law enforcement, training, policy formulation and management. As director of the premier investigating agency of India, Misra has tried to give a new direction to the CBI through steps like preventive vigilance, special drives and employee welfare measures. For distinguished service, Misra has been awarded the President's Police Medal and the Indian Police Medal," the press note said.