Praveen Sood, a 1986-batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer from Himachal Pradesh, has been appointed as the new Director of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The announcement was made by the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions on May 14th, following his appointment. Sood replaces the previous CBI Director, Subodh Kumar Jaiswal, who was appointed as the Chief Information Commissioner earlier this year.
Sood is an alumnus of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT)-Delhi, Indian Institute of Management (IIM)-Bangalore, and Syracuse University in New York. His first posting after joining the IPS was in Mysore in 1989. He returned to Mysore as Commissioner of Police between 2004 and 2007, where he played a key role in the arrest and conviction of terrorists from the Al Badr group. Sood was also appointed as the additional commissioner of police (traffic) for Bengaluru city, from 2008 to 2011. In 2013, he was appointed as the managing director of the Karnataka State Police Housing Corporation.
Credits – Siasat.com
Throughout his career, Sood has been awarded several prestigious awards, including the Chief Minister’s Gold Medal for excellence in service in 1996, Police Medal for Meritorious Service in 2002, and President’s Police Medal for Distinguished Service in 2011. He is also the recipient of the Prince Michael International Road Safety Award in 2006 for his contribution towards road safety and traffic management, as well as the national E-Governance Gold Award for “Most innovative use of technology for Traffic Management” in the year 2011.
However, Sood’s appointment as the new CBI Director comes with some controversies. He has a tricky past with DK Shivakumar, a Congress party leader who recently crafted a historic victory for the party in the state. In March 2023, the KPCC chief had called the then DGP ‘nalayak’ and accused him of favouring the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the state. Shivakumar claimed that while Sood was in charge of the Karnataka Police, around 25 cases were filed against Congress leaders but none against BJP leaders.
Credits – Dajiworld.com
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had also filed a charge sheet against Shivakumar and others for alleged irregularities and corruption in a case related to the illegal purchase of a Delhi property. The case pertains to the purchase of a property worth Rs. 6.5 crore in Delhi’s posh Safdarjung Enclave area, which was allegedly made through hawala channels by Shivakumar. The CBI claimed that the politician had paid in cash and made unaccounted transactions to purchase the property. The Congress party came out in support of Shivakumar, calling the charges politically motivated.
Sood’s appointment as the CBI Director raises concerns about his relationship with Shivakumar and the impact it could have on the ongoing case against him. However, many believe that Sood’s appointment as the new CBI Director will bring a new level of leadership to the agency and help restore its reputation as an independent and impartial investigative agency. His vast experience in the police force and his track record of excellence in service make him a strong candidate for the position.
Credits – Business Today
In conclusion, Praveen Sood’s appointment as the new Director of the Central Bureau of Investigation brings with it both optimism and controversy. While his past with DK Shivakumar raises concerns about his impartiality, his track record of excellence in service and leadership make him a strong candidate for the position. Only time will tell how Sood will handle the challenges ahead and lead the CBI to new
