The arrest of S P S Bakshi, CMD of Engineering Projects India Limited, and two Executive Directors Harcharan Pal and Kapil Tara by the CBI on Monday has raised serious questions of propriety. May it be noted that an inquiry was earlier sabotaged in two complaints regarding his improper deals in Oman and Srilankan companies. Further, even though the proposal for the extension of services of S P S Bakshi was rejected by the Minister and the concerned department, he got it in May 2016 ex-post facto (w.e.f. 04 May 2014). His extension surprised one and all as it happened when ACC was rejecting all recommendations made by PESB for board level positions. Bakshi had completed five years tenure on 04 May 2014 as CMD when the Modi administration came to power at the Centre with a thumping majority. Keeping in view the denial of the extension of services of Arup Roy Choudhury and C S Verma, the then CMDs of NTPC & SAIL respectively, the extension given to Bakshi was seen as something extraordinary. Bakshi, in May 2016, was given an extension till 30 September 2018 (till retirement) despite the Ministry's adverse assessment. However, under immense pressure from a senior officer, who personally called on the departmental minister and conveyed to him that Bakshi would be granted an extension by the top authority, the administrative ministry is said to have changed its mind and altered its proposal on Bakshi to ensure that he does get an extension till his retirement. Web-links: Our previous reports CBI arrests CMD of a CPSE, including two EDs (20 March 2017) http://www.indianmandarins.com/cbi-arrests-cmd-of-a-cpse-including-two-eds/ TV Channel lodges complaint against CMD of Miniratna CPSE (14 February 2017) http://www.indianmandarins.com/tv-channel-lodges-complaint-against-cmd-of-miniratna-cpse/ Bakshi gets mandate to complete almost 10 yrs as CMD (18 May 2016) http://www.indianmandarins.com/bakshi-gets-mandate-to-complete-almost-10-yrs-as-cmd/