What transpired at the meeting to decide new CBI chief

Rajasthan Director General of Police Omendra Bhardwaj, who made it to the final shortlist of 3 candidates for the post of CBI chief, could not get the top post because he had no experience as an investigator.

CBI, additional director Anil Sinha was unanimously selected by the 3-member committee with Chief Justice Dattu supporting his claim. Congress leader in the Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge too supported his name.

It is learnt that the final 2 names for the post of CBI chief were Sharat Kumar, who is the chief of the NIA, and Anil Sinha.

When the prime minister requested Chief Justice H L Dattu to give his views on who should be made chief, he gave a considered view which was accepted by the prime minister. The chief justice had come prepared with dossiers on all the proposed candidates.

Justice Dattu said that since Sharat Kumar and Anil Sinha were batchmates, one could not work under the other. If both were asked to continue where they were currently posted there would be no need to disturb them. He noted that the National Investigation Agency headed by Sharat Kumar was doing excellent work.

Sharat Kumar is the brother-in-law of Bharatiya Janata Party leader Sudhanshu Mittal and sources say that some powerful leaders in the BJP were adamant that he should not be made CBI chief.

Anil Sinha was brought to the CBI from the Central Vigilance Commission during the United Progressive Alliance regime and former CBI director Ranjit Sinha made him additional director. The Congress therefore had no reason to oppose his claim.