National: Rakesh Asthana will be the new Director-General of the Border Security Force (BSF). The IPS officer Rakesh Asthana was in the top post of the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS). SS Deswal will succeed him in the Civil Aviation Security post. SS Deswal is currently holding the post of DG Indo-Tibet Border Police (ITBP) Chief. Deswal is also holding the post of the additional charge of BSF since March 2020.
Rakesh Asthana was also a former official of the Central Bureau of Investigation. He ran into controversy two years ago because of his public feud with his then senior officer Alok Verma. Officer Verma opposed the appointment of Asthana.
Asthana was also subjected to an investigation in a bribery case. However, he got a clean chit from the government in February 2020.
Asthana is an IPS officer of the 1984 batch. He is also in the additional charge of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB). Rakesh Asthana will assume a full-time charge as the BSF chief.
The government-appointed Asthana as a full-time Chief of BSF. This step is taken due to the recent developments at the Line of Actual Control. Asthana, well known for his strong leadership skills and his wisdom in investigations will hold the post of the BSF DG till July 31.
The government also approved the appointment of VSK Kaumud, as special secretary (internal security) in the home ministry. Also, Jawed Akhtar, a 1986 batch IPS has been appointed as DG, Fire Services, Civil Defence and Home Guard. He was earlier serving as the Special DG of CRPF.
The IPS officer in 1997 arrested the RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav in the fodder scam. He also investigated several high-level profile cases including the bank fraud of Vijay Mallya and VVIP chopper scam.