MHA withdraws clearance to 2 IPS officers for extension in CBI

New Delhi: In a curious move, Union Home Ministry Monday withdrew clearance given during the UPA government to two IPS officers for extension in the CBI, minutes before Central Vigilance Commission was to clear their names.

1984-batch Javeed Ahmed, who looks after crucial Policy Division of the CBI, and Ashok Tiwari, a 1993-batch IPS officer looking after Delhi Zone in the agency, had got the nod of the Union Home Ministry last month when UPA was in power, official sources said. Both the officers had completed their five years on the central deputation and the agency as well as the individual officers had requested for an extension of two years. The CVC meeting was a mere formality today as it had agreed verbally earlier for granting extension to these two officers as Home Ministry had even given "cadre clearance" for the same, the sources said. However, as the meeting was convened today, Home Secretary Anil Goswami informed the CVC that the order giving cadre clearance to the two officers stands withdrawn with immediate effect, they said. Ahmed had led the successful investigation in the Aarushi-Hemraj murder case which led to the conviction of the Talwar couple in the case based on chain of circumstantial evidence. According to rules, an IPS officer can have a deputation of seven years in CBI but an extension has to be sought after completion of five-years. Ahmed`s five-year tenure will be coming to an end on June 12. After getting a `No Objection Certificate` from the Uttar Pradesh government in March, the central government gave him cadre clearance in May. However, the about turn by the Home Ministry will ensure that Joint Director (Policy) Ahmed cannot get any extension in the agency and will have to go back to his parent Uttar Pradesh cadre despite impeccable record of service. The sources said Home Ministry "reconsidered" the cadre clearance and "rejected" it today. The empanelment of his batch of IPS officers as Additional Director General rank officers in central services was also scheduled early this year. However, file of entire 1984-batch has been held back by the senior Home Ministry officials despite `no objection certificate` being received from Uttar Pradesh government in his case and completion of other formalities. His empanelment as Additional Director General rank would have seen him being promoted as Additional Director in CBI and continuation for two more years in the CBI.