Kochi: Founder Director General of National Investigation Agency (NIA) R V Raju died at a private hospital in Kochi early on Thursday after a prolonged illness.
Sixty two-year-old Raju breathed his last at 3:40 am after being hospitalised for a brief period, hospital sources said.
Mr Raju was suffering from recurring pneumonia since January this year and had been admitted to the hospital a week ago for lung infection, sources said.
He is survived by his wife and two daughters.
The soft-spoken Raju was appointed on January 19, 2009 as the first Chief of the NIA, set up in the wake of the 26/11 Mumbai terror strikes.
A 1975 batch IPS officer of Jammu and Kashmir cadre, Raju handled the case of US citizen Lashkar-e-Taiba operative David Headley.
Before being appointed as NIA Chief, Raju was the Director General (Vigilance) of Jammu and Kashmir.
Considered as one of the finest officers, Raju was associated with the probes into Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, hijacking of Indian Airlines plane to Kandahar in 1999 and Naval war room leak.
Serving as head of the Vigilance Bureau in Jammu and Kashmir earlier, Raju streamlined the department which was in a shambles due to militancy.
His investigation had brought to light the alleged misappropriation by Maulvi Ifthikar Hussain Ansari, a former minister in Mufti Mohd Sayeed's cabinet.
Sixty two-year-old Raju breathed his last at 3:40 am after being hospitalised for a brief period, hospital sources said.
Mr Raju was suffering from recurring pneumonia since January this year and had been admitted to the hospital a week ago for lung infection, sources said.
The soft-spoken Raju was appointed on January 19, 2009 as the first Chief of the NIA, set up in the wake of the 26/11 Mumbai terror strikes.
Advertisement
Before being appointed as NIA Chief, Raju was the Director General (Vigilance) of Jammu and Kashmir.
Advertisement
Serving as head of the Vigilance Bureau in Jammu and Kashmir earlier, Raju streamlined the department which was in a shambles due to militancy.
Advertisement
COMMENTS
Advertisement
Flower Seller Forced To Buy iPhone For Son On Hunger Strike, Internet Reacts "Trusted Mamata Banerjee But...": Father Of Murdered Doctor To NDTV "Like Indira Gandhi...": Student Arrested For 'Shoot Mamata Banerjee' Post US Man Recalls Moment Pilot Said He Didn't Have "Qualification" To Land Former Kolkata Hospital Principal At CBI Office For Day 4 Of Questioning "Makes Muslim Women's Condition Pathetic": Centre On Triple Talaq In Court Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.