Senior Bihar cadre IPS officer Ranjit Sinha on Monday took over as the new CBI Director. The 59-year-old officer of the 1974 batch , who was heading the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), was due to retire in March 2013, but this appointment will keep him busy for two more years. He succeeds A P Singh, who retired on November 30.
Sinha, who earlier has had two stints with the agency, also probed the fodder scam against the then chief minister of Bihar Lalu Yadav as the deputy inspector general (DIG) of CBI. In his 38-year career,, he also headed the Railway Protection Force (RPF) as its DG.
Addressing the media after assuming charge, Sinha said he was aware of challenges facing the agency like shortage of manpower and delays in action.
Sinha’s appointment was hit by a controversy after Delhi Police Commissioner Neeraj Kumar filed a petition before the Central Administrative Tribunal challenging it.
Dismissing the row, Sinha said, “I don’t think there is any controversy. I think the government has taken a decision and because of that decision I am here. I don’t think there was any resentment among IPS officers. I do not know who filed a petition or complaint against me. It (appointment) is the prerogative of the government.”
