Shashi Kant Sharma took over the charge as the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) replacing Vinod Rai, whose five-year term ended yesterday. He was sworn-in by President Pranab Mukherjee in Rashtrapati Bhavan today.
Mr. Sharma was holding the post of Defence Secretary prior to his appointment as new CAG. His tenure will end on September 24, 2017. However, India Against Corruption (IAC) activist Prashant Bhushan questioned the selection of Mr. Sharma.
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The 1976-batch IAS officer will take the responsibility of the audit report on AgustaWestland chopper deal. It would be a tough task for him while handling the report on the chopper scam as he was closely associated with the deal from its very beging till completion in 2010.
Mr Sharma’s appointment came at a time when the CAG came under attack from the ruling UPA for its reports on 2G, CWG and Coalgate that had triggered political storm.
During Vinod Rai’s tenure, the CAG was accused of crossing its limit and indulging in analysing the political masters’ decisions.