Additional Director of CBI Praveen Sinha on Thursday took charge of the interim director of the agency following vesting of the charge through an order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) on Wednesday.

The move came after the then incumbent CBI Chief RK Shukla retired from service on Wednesday.

Sinha, a Gujarat cadre officer of 1988 batch had earlier served in the CBI as Superintendent of Police, DIG, Joint Director and Additional Director over two stints between 2000 and 2021, the CBI said in a statement.

He also served as Additional Secretary, Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) during 2015-2018. He has served at various places in the State in various capacities from ASP to Additional Director General of Police.

“He had also served as Deputy Director, Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), Ahmedabad in 1996. In the past, Sinha has been associated with the investigation of various Supreme Court/High Court entrusted/monitored scams; major bank frauds and financial crimes and serial bomb blasts. He was instrumental in unearthing major examination paper leakages including those of CAT and AIPMT, it added.

“Sinha has the unique distinction of having drafted the Manual of both the apex integrity institutions – Vigilance Manual 2017 of Central Vigilance Commission and CBI (Crime) Manual, 2020. He has been involved in several innovative and reform initiatives. Sinha is a Member of several Reform Committees constituted by the CVC. He is also a Member of the Committee for Reforms in Criminal Laws constituted by MHA,” it added.

Meanwhile, the agency on Thursday conducted searches in Bhubaneswar/Cuttack at the premises of senior Travelling Inspector (Accounts), East Coast Railway, Bhubaneswar, Rabi Narayan Rath in a case related to possession of disproportionate assets.