ওয়াশিংটন বাংলা রেডিও Washington Bangla Radio USA

New Delhi, July 14 (IBNS) Former Defence Secretary Pradeep Kumar was sworn in as the new Chief Vigilance Commissioner (CVC), India’s anti-corruption watchdog, at the Rashtrapati Bhavan here on Thursday.

A Haryana 1972 IAS cadre officer, Kumar’s name was finalized by the three-member committee headed by the Prime Minister that met here on July 2.

He earlier served as Disinvestment Secretary and Secretary, Defence Production.

The CVC is appointed by a three member committee which now comprises Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Home Minister P Chidambaram and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj of the BJP.

The three met at the PM's residence on July 2 to select the new CVC whose office was under the scanner owing to the controversial appointment and then ouster of P J Thomas as the previous CVC despite a dissent note by Swaraj.

Sushma Swaraj said the new CVC was chosen without any differences.

The United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government was under under sharp attack of the opposition after a hue and cry over Thomas who had a tainted past in Kerala.

He was ousted after the Supreme Court in March this year nullified the appointment of P J Thomas as CVC.