NEW DELHI, Dec 3: Former CBI director Vijay Shankar passed away on Tuesday following a prolonged illness, as confirmed by his family. He was 76 years old.
Shankar had been receiving treatment at a private hospital in Noida for an extended period. In accordance with his final wishes, his remains will be donated to AIIMS, his family stated.
An IPS officer from the 1969 batch of the Uttar Pradesh cadre, Shankar served as the head of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) from December 12, 2005, until July 31, 2008.
During his leadership, the CBI took over the notorious Aarushi-Hemraj double murder case.
As the additional director of CBI, he oversaw the extradition of gangster Abu Salem and actress Monika Bedi from Portugal, and also managed the investigation of the Telgi scam.
Prior to his appointment as CBI director, Shankar was in charge of the National Disaster Response Force, as well as Civil Defence and Home Guards.
He served as inspector general in the BSF and was stationed in Jammu and Kashmir during the height of militancy in the 1990s.
Shankar was a recipient of President’s police medals for distinguished and meritorious service and had also worked with Uttar Pradesh Police and the Ministry of External Affairs in Moscow.
Former CBI director Anil Sinha expressed his condolences regarding Shankar’s passing.
“It is truly sad and unfortunate. We have lost a remarkable gentleman, an honest and brave officer known for his sharp intellect and principled demeanor. We mourn his loss deeply,” he remarked. (PTI)
