From working in defence intelligence bureau RAW to being the DG of Mumbai, the new CBI Chief, Mr. Subodh Kumar Jaiswal is a fascinating mix of administrator, investigator and police official, and has done it all. He could be seen as the best of both worlds, and hence, could come out as an interesting CBI chief in India.
Mr. Jaiswal is an IPS officer who made it through the IPS batch of 1985 with flying colors. In his career spanning more than 2 decades, he served in the Research & Analysis Wing for 8 years and was also appointed in the high-profile and extremely classified Special Protection Group. For the uninitiated, the Special Protection Group is an elite team that handles the security of the Indian Prime Minister and his/her close family members.
“This will benefit the agency in terms of fresh ideas”: CBI Official
It should be noted that CBI has over the years only appointed as chief those who had previously worked with the organization. But lately, CBI has evolved and has been appointing those individuals who had relevant experiences in similar fields without having an experience in the Centre’s investigative agency. CBI’s previous chief, Mr. Rishi Shukla also had no prior experience with the CBI. An official on Mr. Jaiswal’s appointment said that, “In many ways, this will benefit the agency in terms of fresh ideas.”
Turning our focus back at Mr. Jaiswal’s esteemed experience, in 2018, he was appointed as the Commissioner of the Mumbai Police and later in 2019, he was promoted to serving as the Maharashtra Director-General (DG) of Police. The experience laden IPS officer during his term as the Maharashtra DG oversaw the Elgar Parishad and Bhima Koregaon violence, both of which were later given to the NIA (National Investigation Agency).
Involvement in Telgi scam investigation and 26/11 investigation
Before appointed as the DG of Maharashtra Police though, he was also the in-charge of several high-profile cases pertaining to corruption in Maharashtra which includes the Telgi counterfeit stamp paper scam. Prior to overseeing the corruption and violence-based case, Mr. Jaiswal was also the part of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack investigation team.
Serving in Anti-Terrorism Squad, In-charge of investigations against Naxalites
Not only is the newly appointed CBI chief part of the international terrorism attack investigations, he has also relevant experience in internal violence incidents pertaining to Naxalites. He was the in-charge of the investigation into the Elgar Parishad and Bhima Koregaon violence which saw activists being charged by the National Investigation Agency. Additionally, Mr. Jaiswal has also a few more feathers in his cap as being part of the Maharashtra’s Anti-Terrorism Squad.
Born and brought up in Dhanbad, Mr. Jaiswal graduated in English from a Chandigarh-based university and later did his MBA from the Panjab University. In 1985, he joined the elite and prestigious Indian Police Service at the age of 23 by clearing the UPSC IPS exams.
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Earlier in the development
Earlier on Tuesday evening, the governing party appointed Jaiswal, who currently serves as the Director General of the CISF (Central Industrial Security Force), as the new CBI chief for the next 2 years.
The government notification said-
“The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has, based on the panel recommended by the committee constituted as per Section 4A (1) of the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act, 1946, approved the appointment of Subodh Kumar Jaiswal, IPS (Mh-1985) as Director, Central Bureau of Investigation for a period of two years from the date of assumption of charge of the office.”
Mr. Jaiswal was picked by the govt from a panel of 3 officers shortlisted by PM-headed committee which consisted newly appointed Chief Justice of India N.V. Ramana and the leader of opposition Congress, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury. Apart from Mr. Jaiswal, the two other candidates were V.S.K. Kaumudi and Bihar cadre IPS officer K.R. Chandra.
Congress leader submits dissent notice
Meanwhile, after the appointment of Mr. Jaiswal as the CBI Chief, Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury disapproved of the decision and called the selection process flawed.
In his dissent note, Mr. Chowdhury said-
“The DoPT has no statutory backing to pick and forward only select names to the Selection Committee. Moreover, it seems, the DoPT, which is directly under the control of the Central Government, is deliberately trying to sabotage the purpose of this High-Powered Selection Committee. The above conduct of the DoPT is most objectionable.”
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