Ashok Chaturvedi, a 1970 batch Indian Police Service officer from Madhya Pradesh, has been promoted as special secretary and made second in command to P K Hormese Tharakan in the Research and Analysis Wing, the country's external intelligence agency.
Chaturvedi replaces Jyoti Sinha, an IPS officer of the 1968 batch from Bihar. Sinha took premature retirement on January 31 following his supersession by Tharakan.
There was speculation that National Security Adviser M K Narayanan wanted to bring an outsider, possibly from the Intelligence Bureau, which he once headed, to fill the No 2 slot in RAW. Chaturvedi's appointment has put an end to this speculation.
In the Research and Analysis Service hierarchy, Chaturvedi is senior to Amber Sen, who superseded him and became special secretary to occupy the No 3 slot in the organisation when C D Sahay was at the helm.
Amber Sen, a 1970 batch officer, was expected to move into the No 2 position. The decision to promote Chaturvedi and restore his seniority means Sen will have to continue as No 3, probably till he retires.
Both Chaturvedi and Sen have more than two years of service left. Tharakan would reach his age of superannuation on June 30.
He recently brought his family from Thiruvananthapuram and is likely to move into the house meant for RAW chiefs.
The move has given rise to speculation that he may continue as RAW chief beyond superannuation.
The post of the head of the Aviation Research Centre, a special secretary's rank post, which fell vacant on January 31, following Amar Bhushan's retirement has not yet been filled.
Ajai Singh, a 1970 batch IPS officer, who later moved to the Research and Analysis Service, is likely to be appointed to this post. He is close to former external affairs minister Jaswant Singh and had served in the ministry of external affairs as joint secretary (personnel), when the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance was in power. He was responsible for security in the MEA and Indian embassies abroad.