SC Sinha appointed National Investigation Agency chief

Sharad Chandra Sinha, special director of the Central Bureau of Investigation, has been appointed as the second chief of the National Investigation Agency (NIA), succeeding RV Raju who retired in Janurary.

The Appointments Committee of Cabinet headed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh cleared the name of Sinha, a 1975 batch IPS office of Haryana cadre.

Sinha, whose tenure will be till October 31, 2013, is likely to help the government in implementing various policies in countering the threat of terrorism, which includes setting up of National Counter Terrorism Centre.

According to the Bill for the formation of the NIA, the agency will have a concurrent jurisdiction which empowers the Centre to probe terror attacks in any part of the country, covering offences, including challenge to the country's sovereignty and integrity.

It can also take up cases relating to bomb blasts, hijacking of aircraft and ships, and attacks on nuclear installations. 

Before joining the CBI, he was director general in the state vigilance bureau, Haryana.

Earlier, he had held several important positions in CBI from 1985 to 1990 and from 2002 to 2007, including the post of joint director (Economic Offence Wing) and superintendent of police.

He has been associated with the investigations of a number of sensitive cases entrusted to CBI by the Supreme Court and High Courts, which include the recent Shopian case and some others that ended in convictions of the accused.