New CBI chief to preserve integrity

Mr Sinha was the Special Director, the second in command at the agency. His name was among the short-listed candidates chosen after a meeting at Prime Minister Narendra Modi's residence today.

Mr Sinha, an IPS officer from Bihar, has earlier held several important positions in his home cadre. He has been a part of investigations of a number of disproportionate assets cases.

He has also served as DIG and IG in Special Protection Group, New Delhi, and Additional Secretary in Central Vigilance Commission.

A collegium comprising the Prime Minister, Chief Justice of India HL Dattu and the leader of the largest Opposition party or Congress, met for the first time after the anti-corruption Lokpal law was enacted in December.

Mallikarjun Kharge, who leads the Congress in the Lok Sabha, represented the Opposition.

Just weeks before his retirement, Ranjit Sinha was removed by the Supreme Court from the investigation of the 2G spectrum scam, one of the country's biggest financial scandals, based on evidence that he tried to scuttle the probe and met with several of the accused at his residence in Delhi.

The ruling BJP has pointed out that it had objected to Mr Sinha's appointment but was overruled by the previous government of Manmohan Singh.

Last week, Parliament cleared a change in rules to allow the largest opposition party to participate in the selection process even if it does not qualify for the post of Leader of Opposition. The Congress, which lost the May national election and won just 44 seats, fell short of the 55 seats needed to make the cut.

Earlier, a committee headed by Central Vigilance Commissioner used to recommend names for CBI Director.