Enforcement Directorate Head Office at Lok Nayak Bhawan, New Delhi
More than two months before his term ended, Rajan S Katoch was replaced as the director of the Enforcement Directorate today by senior police officer Karnal Singh.
Mr Katoch -- the secretary of the heavy industries department -- held the post as an additional charge. But his removal days after being given a three-month extension had triggered speculation about the reason.
The order comes on the heels of BJP leader Subramanian Swamy's letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, complaining that the agency had not properly investigated the National Herald issue.
Mr Swamy had filed the case, accusing Congress President Sonia Gandhi and her son Rahul Gandhi of breaking the law to grab properties in Delhi, including the office of the National Herald, a newspaper that was set up in 1938 by Jawaharlal Nehru. Mr Katoch had reportedly conveyed to the Revenue Secretary that no case could be made out against the Gandhis.
Sources, however, said Mr Katoch had been requesting for the last six months that he be relieved from the post. Asked if there was any link with the closing of the National Herald case, the source said there was no case to begin with.
In his letter to PM Modi, Mr Swamy had also sought that a full-time director be appointed to the central probe agency.
But Mr Karnal Singh, who is the Special Director, Centre Region of the Enforcement Directorate, will be holding the top post as an additional charge for three months, said a notice by the Department of Personnel and Training.