The Union government on Saturday gave additional charge of National Investigation Agency to CRPF DG Kuldiep Singh, as incumbent Y.C. Modi is set to retire on May 31.
An order issued by the Union home ministry said Singh, a 1986 batch IPS officer of West Bengal cadre, will hold additional charge upon superannuation of Modi, till the appointment and joining of the successor or until further orders.
After the high-voltage drama over appointment of CBI director last week, the move has once again set off speculation about who will succeed Modi in NIA.
Government has a pool of IPS officers from 1985 to 1988 batches to pick a successor of Modi. Top among the list of probable candidates is V.S.K. Kaumudi, who was also in contention for the CBI chief's post and at present is special secretary (internal security) in Union home ministry. Kaumudi, a 1986 batch IPS officer, has served in NIA earlier for a brief period.
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Dilbag Singh, the Jammu and Kashmir DGP, is another contender. A 1987 batch IPS officer, he brings with him rich experience of counter-terror operations but he is not known for investigational experience.
Singh can be a possible contender for Delhi police commissioner's post too after S.N. Srivastava retires.
Another dark horse who can succeed Modi in NIA is yet another J&K cadre officer, S.M. Sahai, who belongs to the 1987 batch and, at present, works in the National Security Council Secretariat under NSA Ajit Doval.
There is speculation whether Rakesh Asthana, serving as BSF DG, will be brought to NIA and given extension. But he retires in July and the government may want to go with the fresh pool of officers after him.
Modi, a 1984 batch IPS officer of Assam Meghalaya cadre, had a successful tenure at NIA and has overseen some of the crucial investigations like the 2019 Pulwama terror attack case in which the agency filed a chargesheet last year; the crackdown on separatists in Jammu and Kashmir leading to the arrests of many leaders in terror financing cases; and the gold smuggling case of Kerala.
