New Delhi, February 2: While a meeting of the selection committee, headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to select the next CBI Director on Friday remained inconclusive, the government is understood to have proposed couple of names for the coveted post. While the Modi government reportedly proposed names of Rajni Kant Misra and S S Deswal, Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge, who is also part of the three-member panel, pushed for Senior IPS officers of 1984 batch, Javeed Ahmed. Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi is also part of the selection committee.

Rajni Kant Misra, who is believed to be the frontrunner for the CBI Director's post, is head of the Border Security Force (BSF). Misra's batchmate Ahmed is at present the chief of National Institute of Criminology and Forensic Sciences. Deswal, who is from Haryana cadre, is the director general of Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP). While Kharge objected to names of Misra and Deswal, the government is not in favour of Ahmed's appointment as the next CBI chief. Justice AK Sikri, Who Backed Alok Verma's Removal From CBI, Didn't Want to be Part of Selection Committee: Report.

The decision on a new CBI Director to replace ousted Alok Verma is expected today. "Tomorrow it will happen. Whether it (meeting) happens or not, but decision will be taken tomorrow," Kharge told reporters after Friday's meeting. He was asked if another meeting of the selection panel will take place on Saturday. Asked if a decision will be taken on Saturday, he said: "most probably". The high-level committee had earlier removed Verma as CBI chief despite the Supreme Court's order restoring his powers.

Earlier, the government shortlisted 11 candidates from a pool of IPS officers belonging to 1983, 1984 and 1985 batches. These candidates include controversial IPS officer Rakesh Asthana and YC Modi who was part of the Supreme Court-appointed Special Investigation Team which probed the 2002 riots in Gujarat from 2010 to 2012. The SIT had cleared Narendra Modi, who was then the chief minister of the state. CBI vs CBI Battle Explained: Why Alok Kumar Verma and Rakesh Asthana are at Loggerheads? How it All Started.

The post of the CBI chief has been lying vacant since January 10 after the PM Modi led panel removed him from the post. M Nageswara Rao has been working as the interim CBI chief after Verma's ouster. Verma and Central Bureau of Investigation Special Director Rakesh Asthana were sent on forced leave on October 23 after their fight became public. Both the officials had levelled allegations of bribery against each other.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Feb 02, 2019 09:58 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).