Anil Kumar Sinha takes charge as CBI's new director

Anil Kumar Sinha, a 1979-batch Indian Police Service officer, on Wednesday took over the reins of the Central Bureau of Investigation at a time when the agency is facing criticism from courts over its handling of probe in coal allocation and 2G scams.

Sinha, 58, who has experience of 21 months with CBI as special director and supervised the Saradha chit fund probe, has a tough task cut out for him to restore the credibility of the agency which has drawn flak from various courts, including the Supreme Court which had once called it a ‘caged parrot’.

He is the third consecutive chief of the agency from Bihar following Ranjit Sinha and A P Singh. A student of prestigious Kennedy School of Government in HarvardUniversity, the soft-spoken Sinha explained his priorities to media saying, "There is no challenge which is small or big.... The challenges are an opportunity to do good."

"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 organisation i.e. industry, impartiality and integrity," he said in a brief statement.

A post-graduate in psychology, Sinha's name was agreed upon during a meeting of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chief Justice of India H L Dattu and leader of Congress Mallikarjuna Kharge which is the first such meeting to select CBI chief after the Lokpal Act came into being.

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 the joined the CBI in May 2013 where he supervised Saradha chit scam probe among other major cases. He was awarded a Police Medal for Meritorious Service in 2000 and the President's Police Medal for distinguished service in 2006.

Sinha joined IPS in 1979 and for next 18 years served in Bihar in various capacities as superintendent of police in important districts and later as special branch director inspector general of police.

He served on central deputation from 1998 to 2005 in Special Protection Group as DIG and thereafter as inspector general engaged in the protection of the Prime Minister and other SPG protectees.

In 2005, he went back to Bihar as Additional DG (Law and Order) where he raised a specialised force called Special Auxiliary Police (SAP) comprising of retired army personnel. 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.

Sinha joined the CBI as special director in May, 2013 and is supervising several zones of anti-corruption, economic offences, special crimes, STF and MDMA.

Image: 1979-batch IPS officer Anil Kumar Sinha assumes charge as CBI director in New Delhi. Photograph: Kamal Kishore/PTI Photo