Rakesh Asthana appointed Delhi Police Commissioner

The 1984-batch IPS officer of Gujarat cadre currently holds additional charge of the Narcotics Control Bureau

Controversial IPS officer Rakesh Asthana, the BSF Director General whose name figured in the leaked database of potential targets of surveillance using Pegasus spyware, was on Tuesday night appointed Delhi Police Commissioner, three days before his superannuation.

With this, the service of Asthana, who is considered close to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, would be extended for another one year.

At present, the 1984-batch IPS officer of Gujarat cadre also holds additional charge of the Narcotics Control Bureau besides heading the BSF.

His name was also considered for the post of CBI Director but Supreme Court Chief Justice NV Ramana pointing out an apex court order about not considering officers with less than six months service for such posts nixed chances.

Twenty-seven days ago, IPS officer of the AGMUT cadre officer of 1988 batch Balaji Srivastava was given additional charge of Commissioner of Police after S N Shrivastava retired.

“The approval of the appointment committee of the Cabinet has been conveyed, dated July 27, 2021, for the Inter Cadre deputation of Rakesh Asthana, from Gujarat cadre to AGMUT Cadre and extending his service initially for a period of one year beyond the date of his superannuation on July 31,2021, or until further orders, whichever is earlier, in relaxation of Rule 16 (1) of the All India Services (death-cum-retirement benefits) rules, 1958 as a special case in public interest," the appointment order said.

"In pursuance of the said approval, Asthana is hereby appointed as Commissioner of Police, Delhi, with effect from the date of taking over charge up to July 31, 2022 or until further orders, whichever is earlier. This issues with the approval of the competent authority,” B G Krishnan, Deputy Secretary, said in a notification issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs.

A controversial officer, he was locked in a war with then-CBI Director Alok Verma when he was Special Director in the agency. Under Verma, the CBI had registered an FIR against Asthana in October 2018, alleging that a suspect in a case involving meat exporter Moin Qureshi was forced to pay Rs 2.95 crore to Asthana through two middlemen to water down the case against him.

Asthana also approached the Central Vigilance Commission against Verma, which led to the ouster of both of them from the CBI, which later cleared the former of allegations.

Usually, AGMUT cadre officers are appointed Delhi Police chief and only on rare occasions, officers from other cadres were made Police Commissioner.

Recently, Asthana's name figured in the leaked database of people who were potential targets of surveillance using controversial Israeli spyware Pegasus. His name was found in the database soon after Verma and Asthana were removed from the CBI in October 2021.