Asif Ibrahim tipped to be new IB chief

The government is likely to appoint S Asif Ibrahim as Director of Intelligence Bureau. He will be the first Muslim to hold the post.

Ibrahim's name, it's learnt, has been recommended for the post. Ibrahim, a 1977-batch IPS officer of Madhya Pradesh cadre, is currently serving as Special Director in the Intelligence Bureau.

Decks were cleared for his appointment after his colleague in the IB, Yashovardhan Azad, also of Madhya Pradesh cadre but a year senior to him, was recommended for the post of Secretary (Security) in the Cabinet Secretariat, sources said. Earlier, Azad was considered to be the front-runner for the job.

Though the orders have not been signed as yet, sources said the selection panel that includes Cabinet Secretary, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister and the National Security Advisor, had made its recommendation for these posts.

Ibrahim, who would otherwise have retired in September next year, would have a two year tenure as Director of IB who is considered to be the topmost in the pecking order of the Indian Police Service.

Born in 1953, Ibrahim belongs to Kanpur and is son of a state administrative service officer who was later promoted to the IAS. He served as private secretary to the late Madhavrao Scindia when he was the Railway Minister in the late eighties. Later, he worked with former Home Minister and chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir Mufti Mohammad Sayeed.

In the IB, he has handled the Kashmir desk, Delhi desk and was also posted in Jaipur for about four years. Later, he was posted at the Indian High Commission in London as Minister (Coordination) from where he returned to the headquarters only last year.

Meanwhile, the name of Alok Joshi is believed to have been cleared for the post of head of Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), India's external intelligence agency. Like, the top position at IB, the post of RAW chief is also falling vacant at the end of next month. Joshi is a 1976-batch officer of Haryana cadre.

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