Govt transfers CBI additional director Pande

The government today transferred Additional CBI Director P.C. Pande, who was involved in a controversy over his role as the Ahmedabad police commissioner during the post-Godhra riots, after it told the Supreme Court that he was being moved out of the investigating agency.

Earlier, Solicitor General G.E. Vahanvati informed an apex court bench comprising Justice Ruma Pal and Justice C.K. Thakker, hearing a petition filed by Citizens for Justice and Peace, of the government8217;s decision to shift Pande from the CBI. Pande, a 1970 batch IPS officer from the Gujarat cadre, has been appointed on deputation basis to Indo-Tibetan Border Police ITBP upto March 2, 2008 or until further orders, according to a government order here.

In its order, the Home Ministry asked the department of personnel and training, the cadre controlling department of the CBI, to relieve Pande immediately so that he can take up the new assignment.