New Delhi: The PM Modi-led selection panel on Saturday appointed IPS Rishi Kumar Shukla as the new director of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). former MP DGP, Shukla is an officer of 1983 cadre of the IPS. He has been appointed for a period of two years from the day of assumption of office.

The Centre government announced the name of next CBI chief, ignoring the objections raised by Congress senior leader Mallikarjun Kharge, a member of Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led selection committee, on the names of probable contenders proposed by the government.

The post of the CBI chief had been lying vacant since January 10 after the unceremonious exit of Alok Verma. Senior IPS officers of 1984 batch, Javeed Ahmed, Rajni Kant Misra and SS Deswal, were also said to be among the top contenders for the post.

The post of the CBI chief was vacant  after the unceremonious exit of Verma, who had been engaged in a bitter fight with Gujarat-cadre IPS officer Rakesh Asthana over corruption charges.

Former Director Verma had been engaged in a public feud with his deputy, Rakesh Asthana. Both, Verma and Asthana, had accused each other of corruption. The two officers were also removed from the office in a midnight coup.

Shukla  will take charge from acting director M Nageswara Rao, who took over the post last month following the sacking of Alok Verma by the panel.