Himachal DGP is new CBI chief

The delay in naming Vijay Shankar’s successor resulted in some confusion and discomfort in the CBI headquarters, with the customary “handing over” ceremony being hastily dispensed with. Earlier, Vijay Shankar’s scheduled farewell tea for juniors, too, had to be cancelled due to water-logging in the CBI’s front-lawns.

While Vijay Shankar relinquished charge at around 5 pm, the orders naming the new Director came in around 8 pm, even as the CBI brass had gathered for his farewell dinner at the Ashoka Hotel.

The farewell was attended by Prime Minister’s Principal Secretary T K A Nair and Intelligence Bureau Director P C Halder, besides several former CBI directors and heads of other police organisations.

Vijay Shankar spoke about how the CBI had strived to uphold its reputation as the country’s premier investigation agency mandated to “uphold the economic well-being and conscience of the nation”.

Speaking at the function, CBI Special Director M L Sharma, who was earlier tipped for the director’s post, spoke about how Vijay Shankar had succeeded in renewing a dialogue with the agency’s counterpart in Pakistan after a gap of 17 years.

Sharma, is understood to have been called to the PMO in the evening and informed about the Government’s decision. His next assignment, was, however, not announced.