In a first move before the appointment of the new CBI Director, the Modi administration shunted out four top officials, including controversial Special Director Rakesh Asthana, from the countrys premier investigation agency with immediate effect.

The Centre has called a meeting of the high-power selection committee on January 24 to select a new CBI chief.

Besides Mr. Asthana, booked in a bribery case by then CBI Director Alok Verma, the others removed are A.K. Sharma, M.K. Sinha and Jayant Naiknavare.

As per the official notification issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) on January 17, the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet approved the curtailment of tenure of the four CBI officials in the rank of Special Director/Joint Director with immediate effect.

Top sources in the DoPT told The Hindu that except Mr. Naiknavare, all three will be accommodated in the Centre in different organisations.

“Mr. Naiknavare will be repatriated to his parent cadre Maharashtra as sought by the State government,” a senior official said, adding, The other three will remain on Central deputation in different posts.”

Insiders in the government said Mr. Asthana is likely to be appointed head of the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security.

Mr. Verma and Mr. Asthana were both engaged in a bitter feud that escalated to an FIR naming Mr. Asthana in an alleged bribery case. As the feud escalated as a major public turf war, both officials were divested of their responsibilities in an unprecedented midnight coup following a CVC report in October last year.

Subsequently, Mr. Verma had challenged the decision to send him on leave in the Supreme Court, which reinstated him on January 8. However, two days later, a high level selection committee removed him from the post