Anil Kumar Sinha takes over as CBI director

Anil Kumar Sinha, a 1979-batch IPS officer of the Bihar cadre, has taken over as the new director of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), after the much-criticised Ranjit Sinha's term ended as CBI chief.

Sinha, 58, has been with the agency as a special director for the past 21 months and supervised the Saradha chit fund probe. He is the third consecutive chief of the agency from Bihar following A P Singh and Ranjit Sinha.

He takes over as chief of the country's premier investigating agency at a time when the agency is facing criticism from courts over its handling of probe in coal allocation and 2G scams and has a tough task cut out to restore the credibility of the CBI.

An alumni of the prestigious Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, and a post-graduate in psychology, Sinha was chosen by a collegium of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chief Justice of India H L Dattu and leader of the Congress in the Lok Sabha Mallikarjuna Kharge.

It is the first such meeting to select the CBI chief after the Lokpal Act came into being.

''There is no challenge which is small or big... The challenges are an opportunity to do good.'' the soft-spoken Sinha told media after the announcement.

''I accept the responsibility to head the premier investigation agency with deep humility. I am aware of the challenge facing the CBI and would endeavour to work with my team to strengthen the cause of justice and reiterate our commitment to the values enshrined in the motto of the organization, ie, industry, impartiality and integrity,'' he said in a brief statement.

Sinha has served in several important positions, including in anti-corruption and vigilance wing in Bihar, before joining as additional secretary in the Central Vigilance Commission.

He joined the CBI in May 2013 where he supervised the Saradha chit fund scam probe among other major cases. He is supervising several zones of the agency such as anti corruption, economic offences, special crimes, STF and MDMA.

He was awarded a Police Medal for Meritorious Service in 2000 and the President's Police Medal for distinguished service in 2006.

Sinha joined the Indian Police Service in 1979 and for the next 18 years served in Bihar in various capacities as Superintendent of Police in important districts and later as Special Branch DIG.

He served on central deputation from 1998 to 2005 in Special Protection Group (SPG) as DIG and thereafter as IG engaged in the protection of the prime minister and other SPG protectees.

In 2005, he went back to Bihar as ADGP (Law and Order) where he raised a specialised force called Special Auxiliary Police (SAP) comprising of retired Army personnel (JCOs). He also served as Additional DG and head of the Vigilance Investigation Bureau.

He returned to central deputation as additional secretary in CVC in 2010 and continued till April, 2013 looking after the vigilance matters of public sector banks, public sector enterprises, union ministries and policy matters.