Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led panel to meet on January 16 to select CBI chief

The post of CBI director is lying vacant for over one month following Anil Sinha's retirement on December 2. At present, Gujarat-cadre IPS officer Rakesh Asthana is the interim director of the investigating agency.

The selection committee has Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge and Chief Justice of India or his nominee as its other members.

A list of about 45 eligible IPS officers has been sentto the Prime Minister's Office for consideration as next CBIdirector, official sources said on Sunday.

The name of senior IPS officers Krishna Choudhary, ArunaBahuguna and S C Mathur, among others are doing the rounds as strong contenders for the top post, they said.

Choudhary and Bahuguna are 1979 batch IPS officers of Bihar and Telangana cadre respectively. Chaudhary is Director General of Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) force and Bahuguna is Director of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy, Hyderabad.

Mathur, a 1981 batch IPS officer of Maharashtra cadre, isworking with Maharashtra State Police Housing and WelfareCorporation Ltd.