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An IPS officer as the next ED Chief?

By Rakesh Ranjan- 14 Jul 2023

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New Delhi (14.07.2023): The most logical question being asked after the Supreme Court fixed July 31, 2023 as the last day for Sanjay Kumar Mishra (IRS IT: 1984) as ED Chief is that who will succeed him. Many names have started surfacing as his possible successor. Most of the names doing rounds are from IRS (IT) cadre but past records suggest that the guessing game doesn’t work with this government.

IRS officer for IRS heavy structure?

A big section still vouches for the IRS officer as the next ED chief. They believe that of late ED increasingly became IRS heavy as they have better knowledge of transaction trails and vast exposure to the PMLA framework. Though officers from other services too have been inducted in ED at various levels yet it remains IRS heavy upwardly. Justifying their take, sources say that IRS officers have proved to be far more effective and in sync with the centrality of the establishment's playbook.

Four frontrunners?

The four names that are doing rounds include: CBDT Chairman Nitin Gupta (IRS IT: 1986); Pravin Kumar (IRS IT: 1987), Member CBDT; Pankaj Kumar Mishra (IRS IT: 1989); Seemanchala Dash (IRS IT: 1988), formerly Principal Special Director in ED and Adviser to ED, IMF.

Other key considerations!

Apparently, the New Delhi dispensation may surprise yet again on the name of Mishra’s successor, at least, this is what Indianmandarins has learnt from its sources. They say that prospective names leave many angles to ponder on. Will the post of Director go to IRS Income Tax cadre again or to IRS Customs & Indirect taxes cadre would also be in consideration zone? Will it be a woman IPS officer?

Bearing on GSTN provision

Still the question remains, will the Director post go to IRS Income Tax cadre again or IRS Customs & Indirect Taxes cadre stands a chance after notification bringing Goods and Services Tax Network (GSTN) under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA)?

Or an IPS officer?

There was a time when ED was predominantly led by IAS officers but NaMo 0.1 had appointed a 1984 batch IPS officer as its chief. Will there be an IPS officer as the ED chief yet again that to a woman? Well placed sources say one should not be surprised if Rashmi Shukla (IPS: 1988: MH), currently DG in Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), is picked for the coveted yet challenging job.

(By Rakesh Ranjan)

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