Sandhu new IB chief from January 1

A key counter-terrorism expert, Nischal Sandhu, will take over as the next chief of the Intelligence Bureau, a government source said on Friday.

A key counter-terrorism expert, Nischal Sandhu, will take over as the next chief of the Intelligence Bureau, a government source said on Friday.

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A formal announcement is expected shortly, initially appointing Sandhu as an officer on special duty at the bureau – as an understudy to the IB chief – till 31 December. Sandhu will step into IB chief Rajiv Mathur shoes on January 1.

A government panel has recommended Sandhu’s name to the appointments committee of the cabinet for approval. “The panel didn’t really have to discuss too much. He was a clear choice,” a source said.

Sources said the government was equally clear about its choice for the next chief of the Research & Analysis Wing, the external spy agency but hadn’t still made up its mind on an extension to CBI director Ashwani Kumar or his replacement.

The appointment process, is a little more complicated at R&AW where the incumbent, KC Verma’s tenure is being cut short by a month, apparently to accommodate Sanjeev Tripathi.