New Delhi, December 18: The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet on Tuesday promoted M Nageswara Rao, the interim chief of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), as the agency's additional director. Rao was currently holding the designation of joint director, while being granted the temporary charge of director.

Rao, a 1986-batch IPS officer of Odisha cadre, joined the CBI in November 2016 as a joint director. His name was considered for promotion when a review of this batch took place in April 2018. CBI Interim Chief Nageswara Rao Accused by CPM Leader of 'Giving Communal Speech'.

Rao was handed over the reigns of CBI on October 24, after CBI director Alok Verma and Special Director Rakesh Asthana were sent on a forced leave amid serious charges of graft levelled against them.

After taking charge, Rao affixed signatures on over dozen transfer orders, mainly of those officers who were probing Asthana, besides ordering search and sealing of CBI Director's office.

His appointment at the CBI's helm was challenged by lawyer-activist Prashant Bhushan, claiming that "several serious corruption cases" are pending against him.

"There are 6 regular cases being probed by the CBI itself against (Rao). But in order to protect mr Rakesh Asthana, and prevent an investigation into the Rafale deal, the government has removed Alok Verma in a midnight order and appointed Nageswara Rao," Bhushan had said.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 18, 2018 09:01 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).