Know more about CBI’s new interim director M Nageswara Rao

Past CBI Directors (File photo)

IN THE midst of dramatic infighting within the India’s premier investigation agency, CBI, the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) decided to bring in a new officer — a 1986 batch IPS, M Nageswara Rao — as the interim chief of the CBI. The order of the DoPT dated October 23, said that Rao, presently working as joint director in CBI, will “look after duties and functions of Director CBI and shall take over duties and functions with immediate effect.” Here are 5 things you may like to know about the new CBI boss, Rao:

1. M Nageswara Rao is a 1986 batch Odisha cadre IPS officer serving as joint director of the CBI since April 2016. 

2. Rao originally hails from Mangapet village, Warangal, in the state of Telangana.

3. A post-graduate in chemistry from Osmania University, Rao undertook research in IIT Madras before joining as an Indian Police Service officer.

4. According to media reports, Rao came into prominence when he used the DNA finger printing technique for detecting a rape case in Jagatsinghpur district of Odisha back in 1996. It led to a seven-year-conviction of the accused.

5. Rao also served in Manipur on a deputation to the CRPF. He was CRPF’s DIG (Operations) in that insurgency-affected state.

Meanwhile, Rao’s appointment as the interim head of the investigation came after the government sent both director Alok Verma and special director Rakesh Asthana on leave. Verma and Asthana could not get along, something which ultimately resulted into lodging of an FIR against Asthana, who in turn moved courts. The court, however, did not give any relief to Asthana, who is accused of corruption. As the CBI saga is unfolding, it's unlikely that the issues will be resolved anytime soon.