Delhi Police Commissioner moves CAT

Kumar, a 1976 batch IPS officer, has approached the Tribunal questioning the procedure for picking the three officers and excluding his name for the top post of country's premier investigating agency, official sources said.

The CAT is likely to hear the matter later this week, they said. CBI Director A P Singh's tenure ends on November 30.

Kumar's name does not figure in the officers shortlisted by the Central Vigilance Commission for selection as the next CBI Director.

Kumar is credited with cracking the case relating to the assassination of Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh, solving of American Center shootout of 2002 which led to extradition of Aftab Ansari from Gulf, the Bombay blast and UTI scam.

The CVC-headed selection committee has cleared a panel of three senior IPS officials including Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) force Director General Ranjit Sinha, a 1974-batch IPS officer of Bihar cadre; Director General of National Investigation Agency S C Sinha (Haryana:1975); and former UP D G Atul (UP:1976).

Their names have been put before the Appointments Committee of Cabinet headed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the sources said.

As per the norms, a six-member committee led by Central Vigilance Commissioner selects three officers for the post of CBI Director.The committee comprises Home Secretary, Personnel Secretary, incumbent CBI Director and two Vigilance Commissioners.

The selected officer gets a fixed tenure of two years as the CBI Director.