Praveen Sood's Tenure as CBI Chief Extended Amidst Political Tensions

The Centre has extended CBI Director Praveen Sood's tenure till May 2026, marking his second extension. Sood, appointed in 2023, is involved in probing significant cases, including the NEET UG leak. The extension comes despite opposition from Rahul Gandhi, emphasizing the political sensitivity surrounding the role.

The Indian government has extended the tenure of Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) chief Praveen Sood for an additional year, stretching his term beyond May 24, 2026. This makes it his second extension in office.

Sood, a 1986-batch IPS officer from the Karnataka cadre, initially took over as the CBI director on May 25, 2023, for a two-year term. The decision for the extension was confirmed during a selection committee meeting led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and members including Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi.

The move has not been without controversy, as Gandhi has expressed dissent towards the selection process. Despite the political tension, the government has endorsed Sood's leadership to ensure continuity in investigations of high-profile cases, including the NEET UG paper leak.