The prospect of Rahul Navin, presently serving as the acting chief of the Enforcement Directorate (ED), ascending to the position of the agency's Director is gaining traction. This anticipated advancement comes on the heels of his recent elevation to the additional secretary level, a prerequisite for assuming the role of the director.
Navin, a distinguished figure with a commendable track record, held the position of Special Director at the ED before his promotion. The move to appoint Navin as the ED Director is expected to materialize following the requisite approval by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC). The ACC formally announced his appointment to the rank and pay grade of additional secretary, aligning him with the eligibility criteria for assuming the role of ED Director, as outlined in the ACC's statement.
A member of the 1993 batch of the Indian Revenue Service (Income Tax), Rahul Navin assumed the role of acting director of the probe agency upon the conclusion of the tenure of the previous director, Sanjay Kumar Mishra, on September 15, 2023. Before assuming the position of In-charge Director, Navin collaborated closely with Sanjay Mishra, gaining valuable experience and insights into the responsibilities associated with the role.
It is noteworthy that the ED, under Navin's leadership, is actively investigating over 120 political leaders in the country, with nearly 95 percent of them belonging to opposition parties. The agency's investigations against political leaders have often drawn criticism from opposition figures, highlighting the contentious nature of its pursuits.
