BCCI rope in former NIA Director General as new chief of Anti-Corruption Unit

BCCI has roped in retired IPS officer Sharad Kumar as the new chief of their Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU). An IPS officer of the 1979 batch, Sharad Kumar headed the anti-terror organization National Investigation Agency (NIA) for four years.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India finalized his appointment on October 1. The 68-year-old, who hails from Bareilly in Uttar Pradesh, has been appointed for a three-year term. According to a report in the PTI, his name was finalized in the BCCI's Annual General Meeting on September 29.

Sharad Kumar is from the Haryana cadre and enjoyed a distinguished career as a police officer. In Haryana, he was posted as a DSP in Gurgaon, Ambala, and Rohtak. He served as the Inspector General of Police, Rohtak Range for nearly three years. Later, he was promoted to the rank of Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) in November 2007.

He served as the director general (prisons) as well. From 1991 to 1999, Sharad Kumar was deployed to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) as SP and DIG. From 2013 to 2017, he was the Director General of the NIA. After his tenure in the NIA was over, he worked as the Vigilance Commissioner in the Central Vigilance Commission from 2018 to 2020.

A distinguished career for BCCI's new ACU chief:

Sharad Kumar will be replacing KK Mishra as the new BCCI ACU chief. Mishra, who was also an IPS officer from the Haryana cadre, was appointed last year but could not complete his tenure. Kumar enjoyed a distinguished career in the police service and the BCCI will be hoping that he lives up to his reputation.

The onus will be on Kumar to crack down on corruption issues in cricket such as match-fixing and betting. The Board of Control for Cricket in India will be relying on his expertise to maintain the integrity of the game in the country.

During his tenure as the NIA Director General, Kumar oversaw several high-profile investigations and operations. He was instrumental in enhancing the NIA's capabilities and infrastructure. He oversaw several investigations on major terror attacks in India, including the Pathankot airbase attack by Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorists.