CBI Chief Praveen Sood's Tenure Extended for One Year

New Delhi: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Director Praveen Sood has been granted a one-year extension, the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet announced on Wednesday. The decision was taken after a lack of consensus within the high-level selection panel on appointing a new director ahead of Sood’s scheduled term end on May 24, 2025.

Earlier this week, Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a meeting of the statutory selection committee at the Prime Minister’s Office to choose the next CBI chief. 

The meeting was attended by Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna as per the provisions of the appointment process. However, the committee failed to reach a unanimous decision, prompting the government to approve a temporary extension.

Who is Praveen Sood?

Praveen Sood, a 1986-batch IPS officer of the Karnataka cadre, was appointed as CBI Director in May 2023, succeeding Subodh Jaiswal, for a fixed term of two years. Before taking charge of the CBI, he served as Director General of Police (DGP) of Karnataka.

Sood began his police career in 1989 as ASP in Mysore, later serving in Bellary, Raichur, and Bengaluru in various leadership roles. He also served as Commissioner of Police in Mysore from 2004 to 2007 and held senior administrative roles in the State Reserve Police, Home Department, and State Police Housing Corporation.

He was on deputation in Mauritius for three years (1999–2002) and has studied Public Policy and Management at IIM Bangalore and the Maxwell School of Governance, Syracuse University, New York.

As per the Central Vigilance Commission Act, 2003, the tenure of the CBI Director is fixed at two years. A 2019 Supreme Court ruling further clarified that:

The CBI Director’s tenure cannot be shortened or the officer transferred without the consent of the appointing committee.