Senior Indian Police Service (IPS) officer Praveen Sood has been granted a one-year extension as Director of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), following a decision by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) on Wednesday. His original two-year term, which began on May 25, 2023, was set to conclude this month.
A 1986-batch IPS officer of the Karnataka cadre, Mr. Sood was initially due to retire in 2024. The extension was cleared during a high-level selection committee meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and attended by Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna and Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi. However, sources indicate that Mr. Gandhi submitted a note of dissent, objecting to the extension.
Born on May 22, 1964, in Himachal Pradesh, Mr. Sood has held several key positions throughout his career, including Commissioner of Police in Bengaluru and Mysuru, and Police Advisor to the Government of Mauritius (1999–2002). His academic credentials include degrees from IIT Delhi, IIM Bangalore, and Syracuse University (Maxwell School, USA).
Over the years, Mr. Sood has earned multiple accolades, such as the President’s Police Medal for Distinguished Service, the Chief Minister’s Gold Medal, and the Prince Michael International Road Safety Award. He is married to Vineeta Sood, and the couple has two daughters—one of whom, Aashita, is married to Indian cricketer Mayank Agarwal.
Mr. Sood’s extension comes at a time when the CBI is handling several high-stakes investigations across the country. His continuation at the helm reflects the government’s confidence in his leadership, but also highlights the ongoing difficulty in reaching consensus over the appointment of a new CBI chief.
The CBI, established in 1963, operates under the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) and is India’s premier agency for probing corruption, economic crimes, and high-profile criminal cases. Though powerful, it remains a non-constitutional body.
