PM-led panel's meet on CBI chief selection 'inconclusive'

The second meeting of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led panel on CBI chief's selection remained inconclusive, officials said Friday.

The panel had earlier met on January 24 but could not decide on the CBI chief.

Friday's meeting was attended by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge.

The post of the CBI chief has been lying vacant since January 10 after the unceremonious exit of Alok Verma, who had been engaged in a bitter fight with Gujarat-cadre IPS officer Rakesh Asthana over corruption charges.

Both Verma and Asthana had accused each other of corruption.

Verma, after being removed from the post of CBI director by the PM-led panel, was named as the Director General of Fire Services, Civil Defence and Home Guards -- a less significant portfolio.

Verma did not accept the offer and wrote to the government, saying he should be considered as deemed superannuated as he has completed 60 years age of superannuation on July 31, 2017.

He had taken over as the CBI chief on February 1, 2017 for a fixed two-year tenure that ended Thursday.

M Nageswara Rao has been working as the interim CBI chief since Verma's ouster.