New NIA chief takes over

Mukesh Ranjan

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, October 30

YC Modi, 1984-batch Assam-Meghalaya cadre IPS officer who took charge as the new Director General (DG) of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) today, claimed that the probe agency is investigating alleged “love jihad” cases as per the direction of the Supreme Court.

In August, the Supreme Court had asked NIA to probe the marriage of Shafin Jahan and Akhila Asokan under the supervision of retired SC judge RV Raveendran to examine the alleged indoctrination and conversion to Islam of the girl and if this was part of an organised “love jihad”. But later Justice Raveendran informed the apex court that he would not supervise the NIA in the case citing his busy schedule.

Responding to queries relating to the investigation in “love jihad” cases, as this does not “strictly fall under the NIA mandate”, Modi, who held an introductory press conference, said: “The agency is probing the case as per the direction of the Supreme Court.” But when insisted that Justice Raveendran had refused to supervise the investigation, the NIA chief said: “Both the things are in the knowledge of the Supreme Court.”