Joginder Singh may get the axe

George Iype in New Delhi

Mounting pressure from the Congress and the Janata Dal has forced Prime Minister Inder Kumar Gujral to look for a successor to the Central Bureau of Investigation's controversial director Joginder Singh.

The prime minister's office has shortlisted the names of at least three Indian Police Service officers who could replace Singh before he retires in November, government sources told Rediff On The NeT.

Speculation has been rife about a change of guard at the premier investigating agency after Singh leaked the CBI's Bofors report to the press last month, much to the embarrassment of the Congress and Gujral government. Singh's decision to prosecute JD president and Bihar Chief Minister Laloo Prasad Yadav in the fodder scam also upset the United Front.

Moreover, the CBI's failure to corroborate charges against prominent politicians in the Jain hawala case is attributed to Singh's ''improper handling of sensitive cases''.

These setbacks coupled with Singh's penchant for publicity is said to have compelled the home ministry last week to draw up a list of likely candidates who could take charge of the post.

Sources said the list is now lying with the prime minister and a decision will be taken shortly.

The three IPS officers include CBI Special Director D R Kartikeyan who is considered the front-runner. Home Minister Indrajit Gupta favours Kartikeyan as he is believed to be one of the finest investigators in the country. He headed the Special Investigation Team that probed the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case.

The second name on the list is believed to be that of Intelligence Bureau Director Arun Bhagat who worked in the CBI before his induction into the IB. Bhagat is said to be close to Gujral.

The third name on the list is that of A P Durai, director general of the Railway Protection Force. Durai is the senior-most IPS officer in the country.

Other names like Central Reserve Police Force Director M B Kaushal and former Delhi police commissioner Nikhil Kumar are also making the rounds as likely successors to Singh.

Laloo Yadav wants the prime minister to sack Singh pronto. Singh, the Bihar chief minister says, is close to former prime minister H D Deve Gowda. A Karnataka cadre IPS officer, Singh was handpicked by Deve Gowda to head the CBI after he became prime minister last year.