The UPA government has a big decision on its hands—choosing the next Director of the Central Bureau of Investigation from the three finalists picked by the CVC. The two year term of the incumbent CBI Director, AP Singh, a 1974 batch IPS officer of Jharkhand cadre, expires on November 30.
A high powered selection committee headed by Chief Vigilance Commissioner Pradeep Kumar and comprised of the Cabinet Secretary, Home Secretary, Secretary Personnel and CBI Director, on October 30 cleared a panel of three senior IPS officials—Ranjit Sinha, 1974-batch IPS officer of Bihar cadre, S C Sinha, 1975- batch Haryana cadre, and Atul Gupta, 1976 batch UP cadre. While Ranjit and SC Sinha’s name were doing the rounds for some time, Atul Gupta’s selection in the final list came as a big surprise.
Among the three contenders, Ranjit Sinha is the senior-most IPS officer and currently serving as Director General of Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP).
SC Sinha, a year junior to Ranjit Sinha is Director General of the National Investigation Agency while Atul Gupta, who proved to be the dark horse in the race, is Director General, UP Home Guards. Sources said that while Ranjit Sinha is the top contender considering his seniority in the service, he will have to battle it out with SC Sinha who earlier served in the CBI as a special director before joining National Investigation Agency.
Ranjit Sinha, a post-graduate in science, earlier served as Joint Director (Anti-corruption) and Joint Director (Administration) in CBI. He also served as IG Operations, CRPF, during most crucial period of insurgency in J&K. Before taking over the ITBP reins, he served as DG Railway Protection Force and made significant contributions in implementing the integrated security scheme at various railway stations in the wake of the terrorist attack at CST Railway Station, Mumbai, in 2008. He has been awarded Indian Police Medal of Meritorious Service in 1991 and the President’s Police Medal for Distinguished Service in 1997.
Like, Ranjit Sinha, SC Sinha is also a post graduate in science. He earlier served as a director general in the State Vigilance Bureau, Haryana. His stint with CBI, starting in 1985 has been eventful and he held important positions in the agency during his tenure from 1985 to 1990 and from 2002 to 2007. During his long stint with CBI, SC Sinha handled several sensitive cases including the Shopian murder case in J&K. In 2010, after superannuation of the NIA’s founder director Radha Vinod Raju, then home minister P Chidambaram handpicked SC Sinha to lead the counter-terror organisation considering his wide experience in handling high-profile investigations. Raised in the aftermath of 26/11 attack, NIA under SC Sinha’s leadership—through seamless coordination with other agencies—successfully executed deportation of Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist Abu Jundal and his close aide Mahmood Fasih from Saudi Arabia.
During his tenure, the NIA interrogated the key handler of the 26/11 Mumbai attacks David Coleman Headley, who spilled the beans on the involvement of Pakistan’s state and non-state actors in the attack on Indian soil. Headley’s on record admission was a major breakthrough for the NIA and the Indian government .
Apart from terror related cases, NIA in the last two years managed to crack down on Naxal funding and fake Indian currency rings operating within the country. Sinha was decorated with the Police Medal for Meritorious Service in 1992 and the president’s Police Medal for Distinguished Service in 2003. Atul Gupta, the former DGP of UP, is known for his grip on law and enforcement agencies in the state. He also served as the Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) in 2007 and later took charge as the director general of the state’s anti-corruption organisation with the additional charge of being MD of Uttar Pradesh Police Housing Corporation. He also served in the CBI.