Rajiv Mehrishi appointed as new Home Secretary

Anil Goswami, a 1978 batch IAS officer of Jammu & Kashmir cadre, was appointed as the Home Secretary, following the retirement of Raj Kumar Singh from the same post.

Goswami had served as Secretary in the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Divisional Commissioner of Jammu & Kashmir, the first Chief of the Vaishno Devi Shrine Board and Special Secretary in the Home Ministry.

Anil Goswami, the Home Secretary was due to stay in office till 30 June 2015.

He resigned under threat of being sacked, after CBI accused him of interrupting its investigation of the multi-crore Saradha scam.

According to sources, Goswami attempted to prevent Congress leader Matang Sinh's arrest (who had allegdedly misappropriated Rs.28 crores) by calling up CBI officials.

A 1979 batch IAS officer of Kerala cadre, and Rural Development Secretary, L.C. Goyal was appointed as the new Home Secretary, in the wake of Anil Goswami's sudden resignation as Home Secretary.

Goyal had previously served in various ministries including the Ministry of Finance & Company Affairs, and the Cabinet Secretariat.

Goyal who was due for retirement in a few hours, was abruptly asked to resign just hours before Mehrishi was to superannuate as the Secretary of the Department of Economic Affairs.

Sources close to Home Minister Rajnath Singh said that Goyal was deemed "too bureaucratic".

Following Goyal's resignation, an order was issued appointing him as the Chairman of the Indian Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO).

Rajiv Mehrishi, a senior IAS officer, assumed the office of Home Secretary, replacing L.C. Goyal.

Sources said that the pedantic Goyal's removal was to "accommodate" Mehrishi, who was handpicked by Modi and whose style of working was appreciated by the government.

As a result, Congress accused Modi of "excessive centralisation and authoritarianism".

Goyal, however, stated that his resignation was purely "for personal reasons".