Outgoing ED Chief Sanjay Mishra Likely Country's First Chief Investigation Officer ?

New Delhi, Aug 29: The Central government is believed to have decided to appoint outgoing Enforcement Directorate (ED) chief Sanjay Kumar Mishra as the first Chief Investigation Officer (CIO), a new position that will oversee the work done by the country's premier investigating agencies, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the ED.

The CIO will be responsible for ensuring synergy between the two agencies. The chiefs of the CBI and the ED will report to the CIO, some media reports said.

Mishra is a 1984-batch Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer. He has had an illustrious career and was involved in several high-profile cases in the Income Tax before his stint in the ED. He was appointed as the interim director of the ED in October 2018 and was later made the full-time chief in January 2019.

The Supreme Court had earlier allowed Mishra to continue as ED chief till September 15 in "larger public interest." The government had argued that Mishra's continuation was "essential" for conducive positive review by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).

• The CIO will be responsible for overseeing the work of the CBI and the ED, including their investigations, policies, and procedures.
• The CIO will also be responsible for ensuring that the two agencies work together effectively and efficiently.
• The CIO will report directly to the Prime Minister's Office (PMO).