Amid Crisis in Kolkata, Rishi Shukla Takes Charge as CBI Director

The selection committee has PM Modi, CJI Ranjan Gogoi and Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge as its members.

IPS Rishi Kumar Shukla took charge as the new CBI director on Monday, 4 February, amid the ongoing tussle between the central investigating agency and the Kolkata police.

On Saturday, Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge sent a dissent note on Shukla's appointment, citing the officer's lack of experience in anti-corruption investigations.

Attorney General KK Venugopal on Monday also filed a contempt petition in the Supreme Court against activist lawyer Prashant Bhushan for allegedly scandalising the court with his recent tweets on the appointment of former interim chief of CBI M Nageshwar Rao.

• IPS Officer Rishi Kumar Shukla was appointed as the new CBI director on Saturday, 2 February
• The announcement came after the second meeting of the PM-led panel
• The Supreme Court on Friday had expressed displeasure at non-appointment of a regular CBI director
• After being reinstated by SC on 8 January, Former CBI Director Alok Verma was removed by the PM Modi-led panel on 10 January

Attorney General Files Contempt Petition Against Advocate Prashant Bhushan in SC

Attorney General KK Venugopal on Monday, 4 February, filed a contempt petition in the Supreme Court against activist lawyer Prashant Bhushan for allegedly scandalising the court with his recent tweets on the appointment of former interim chief of CBI M Nageshwar Rao. The contempt petition refers to the 1 February tweets by Bhushan in which he had allegedly said that the government appeared to have misled the apex court and perhaps submitted fabricated minutes of meeting of the high-powered Selection Committee headed by the Prime Minister.

Venugopal said in his plea that through his tweets, Bhushan appeared to have deliberately intended to cast aspersions on the "integrity and honesty" of the Attorney General who had placed the minutes of the meeting before the apex court during the 1 February hearing.

I have just confirmed personally from the Leader of Opposition Mr Kharge that no discussion or decision in HPC meet was taken re appt of Nageswara Rao as interim Director CBI.The govt appears to have misled the court and perhaps submitted fabricated minutes of the HPC meeting! https://t.co/MbEC5YLjkD

— Prashant Bhushan (@pbhushan1) February 1, 2019

See the letter of LOP Kharge re the unilateral appointment of Nageswara Rao as interim Director CBI by govt, w/o going through HPC of PM, CJI & LOP. Yet govt produced minutes of meeting saying that HPC approved appt. Seems govt gave fabricated minutes to court! Contempt of Court! pic.twitter.com/If7TFO5VfO

— Prashant Bhushan (@pbhushan1) February 1, 2019

(PTI)

Rishi Kumar Shukla Takes Charge as New CBI Director

IPS Rishi Kumar Shukla has taken charge as the new CBI director.

Rishi Kumar Shukla Reaches CBI Headquarters

Rishi Kumar Shukla has reached the CBI headquarters in Delhi.

IPS Rishi Kumar Shukla Likely to Charge Today

IPS Rishi Kumar Shukla is likely to take charge as the new CBI director on Monday, 4 February amid the ongoing tussle between the central investigating agency and the Kolkata police.