Stung by the Supreme Court’s intervention, the Centre on Wednesday shifted senior IPS officer Archana Ramasundaram from CBI to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) as its Director. Archana’s appointment in CBI as Additional Director by the UPA government at its fag end had invited controversies. The UPA government’s move was in violation of CVC norms and the Tamil Nadu Government had declared her a deserter and suspended her the day she illegally joined CBI.
Noted activist Vineet Narain approached Supreme Court against the Centre’s dubious move and TN Government also joined in this petition. On the very first day of the hearing in February 2014, the apex court had barred Archana from functioning in CBI.
The CBI locked horns with Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) and Home Ministry over the choice. Her name was recommended by the then CBI Director Ranjit Sinha to the Department of Personnel and Training, nodal authority for the agency. But, the CVC and then Union Home Secretary had recommended another officer who was opposed by Sinha.