The tenure of Sanjay Kumar Mishra (IRS-IT:1984), the current incumbent of the Enforcement Directorate, concludes tomorrow, on September 15, as mandated by the Supreme Court. Given his close proximity to the central leadership of the present government, there is speculation that Mishra may assume a key government role that would enable him to continue overseeing money laundering cases. However, according to reports, Mishra himself has affirmed his intention to embark on a retired life beginning this weekend.
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Recent media reports have sparked speculation that the Modi government is contemplating the establishment of a novel position, that of the Chief Investigation Officer of India (CIO). Under this proposed speculated arrangement, both the chiefs of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) would report to the CIO. The current ED Chief could potentially become the inaugural CIO before vacating his existing office on September 15.
This envisioned CIO role would bear resemblance to the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), a position created by the Narendra Modi government in 2019, with the CIO directly accountable to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).
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The rumor mill in the corridors of power is expected to persist even if Mishra does not immediately transition into a new role after or before his last working day tomorrow. Such conjecture will likely only subside with the passage of time.
