Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Director Praveen Sood is busy gaining the ground level understanding of the agency's operation. Ever since he took over as director, in 108 days he has visited 51 of the total 58 branches of the agency across the country – a record of sort never heard before. He intends to cover the remaining branches by October 15, 2023.
Sood, a 1986 batch IPS from Karnataka cadre was serving as Director General Police before being picked for this coveted position. He believes in detailing and these trips are just to get familiarise with staff and their on ground working.
According to his staff accompanying him on visits, Sood gets into personal interactions with all staff members, listen to their concerns and ideas and even have meals with them.
“Since CBI is new to him. He wants to make it sure that he gets into every nuance of agency working. These interactions not only helping him in understanding ground realities but also identifying potential of his team members,” said one of the officers.
He said that Sood encourages even lowest rung of staff to share his mind. This will help us in understanding the problems staff is facing.
“Sood still has at least 2 years before retirement. These in-depth interactive sessions and visits will help him formalise strategy and reforms needed to sharpen the skill sets of staff in the agency. Getting first-hand information about the issues faced by the agency at ground level, the “top-down approach” is not as effective as meeting junior officials at the branches,” the official said.
In these 108 days of his joining Sood apart from visiting branches, has also brought in changes in the administrative side of the agency. He has reshuffled many joint directors and given them different and some of them have been even repatriated to their home cadre.
He has directed for timely promotion of staff and told committee to submit their recommendations within time. “This will boost the morale of staff officers. A large number of vacancies at all levels have been notified to be filled through the promotions at every level,” the officer said.
Looking at the increasing cases of cyber crime and bank frauds, Sood has invited specialist officers at DSP level to sharpen the investigation of banking fraud cases.
Vivek Shukla is a management graduate who has worked in corporate worked for 20 years and is now pursuing his passion — news.
 Director Praveen Sood is busy gaining the ground level understanding of the agency’s operation. Ever since he took over as director, in 108 days he has visited 51 of the total 58 branches of the agency across the country - a record of sort never heard before. He intends to cover the remaining branches by October 15, 2023.){kind=link}