Cops line up to join NIA’s city branch

Several officials of the Mumbai police, including a few from the crime branch and the anti-terrorism squad (ATS) are interested in joining the Mumbai division of the National Investigating Agency (NIA), a central agency formed by Union home minister P Chidambaram.

Several officials of the Mumbai police, including a few from the crime branch and the anti-terrorism squad (ATS) are interested in joining the Mumbai division of the National Investigating Agency (NIA), a central agency formed by Union home minister P Chidambaram.

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The agency, which will soon open its offices in the city, had a few weeks back advertised for police officers, along with prosecutors, explosive experts, forensic and biological experts for its centre in the city.

An official of the NIA told HT, on the condition of anonymity, that there was good response to the advertisement. “Several officials of the crime branch and ATS have applied,” the official said. He also said the agency had nearly finalised a deputy inspector general (DIG) rank official currently posted with the ATS, but said the official announcement would be made later.

“The final selection of the officials to be recruited on deputation will be done by the director of the NIA in Delhi soon.”

Earlier, the ministry of home affairs issued orders for filling up 256 posts in the country and setting up offices at Mumbai, Kochi and Lucknow for the NIA centre. Those policemen interested in joining the agency had to send their applications to the NIA office in New Delhi by April 15. For the Mumbai centre, NIA is looking for one superintendent of police (SP) level official, along with two additional SPs, four deputy SP, six inspectors, eight sub inspectors and 38 constabulary/assistant inspectors.

The official also added the NIA had zeroed in on an office for the agency. The main office would be in the Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL) building at Peddar Road, with the second office near the Worli Milk Dairy.

State officials were interested in the NIA as the agency has a pay scale higher than that of the state police, he added.

The NIA recently wrapped up its probe into a fake currency case, with the trial pending. The agency is also investigating the 2008 Malegaon blasts. The agency had recently also interrogated the four accused in the 13/7 blasts case in connection with the Delhi high court blast.