A three-member panel, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, today met here to select the next chief of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
The post of CBI director is lying vacant for over one month following Anil Sinha's retirement on December 2.
The selection committee has Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge and Chief Justice of India or his nominee as its members besides Prime Minister
There was no official word from the government as to what transpired during the meeting, official sources said.
However, a report by the Hindustan Times said that Delhi Police commissioner Alok Kumar Verma, a 1979 batch Indian Police Service officer, has emerged as a front runner to lead the premiere probe agency.
At present, Gujarat-cadre IPS officer Rakesh Asthana is the interim director of the investigating agency.
The selection committee met today over a month after a PIL was filed in the Supreme Court challenging the appointment of RK Asthana as acting director.
An officer of 1984-batch, Asthana was elevated as the Additional Director in the agency on when CBI Special Director RK Dutta, who was reportedly among the frontrunners for the top post, was shifted to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) as a Special Secretary.
A list of about 45 eligible IPS officers wassent to the Prime Minister's Office for consideration as the next CBI director, official sources said today.
Names of IPS officers Krishna Choudhary, S C Mathur, Aruna Bahuguna and Archana Ramasundaram were also doing the rounds as strong contenders.
RK Dutta was also on the list of probable.
HT report, citing sources, said that the government placed three names before the panel for consideration- Verma, RK Dutta and SC Mathur.
Verma, an IPS officer of the Arunachal Pradesh-Goa-Mizoram and Union Territory (AGMUT) cadre was the senior-most among the shortlisted candidates.
He has been serving as the Delhi Police chief for the last 11 months.
