IPS officer Rakesh Asthana Thursday took charge as the chief of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), officials said.
The 1984-batch Gujarat cadre officer has been appointed as the Director General (DG) of the NCB in an "additional" capacity. He is already serving as the DG of the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS).
The Appointments Committee of Cabinet headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as per an order issued by the Union home ministry Wednesday, had approved for "entrustment of the additional charge of the post of Director General Narcotics Control Bureau" to Rakesh Asthana for next six months or till a new incumbent is appointed.
The post of NCB chief was lying vacant since July 4 after incumbent Abhay was appointed as Director of Hyderabad-based Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy.
Rakesh Asthana, who was second in command in the CBI, was transferred as DG BCAS after a bitter tug of war with the then chief of the investigation agency Alok Verma.
Both officers had levelled allegations of corruption on each other after which they were sent on leave by the Centre.
The CBI had registered a First Information Report or FIR against Rakesh Asthana alleging corruption.
He had strongly denied all the allegations and had claimed that he was charged because of a complaint he made against Alok Verma.
At the NCB, the officer is expected to review and initiate quality operations to crack on the narcotics smuggling, nexus of drugs mafia and couriers and money laundering crimes in the wake of the Union government's stress to act against such instances.
MBA Graduate Ran Huge Global Drugs Network With Northeast Link, Busted Probe Agency NCB Busts "Biggest" Darknet Drug Cartel Operating In India Not Challenging Rhea Chakraborty's Bail In Drugs Case: Probe Agency NCB INDIA's "Hit With Footwear" Protest In Mumbai Over Shivaji Statue Collapse Celebrated "Russian Spy" Whale Hvaldimir Found Dead In Norway: Report "It's Mom, I Love You": Mother Of Israeli-American Found Dead In Gaza "Time This War Ended": Biden After Bodies Of 6 Hostages Found In Gaza Rain Fury Kills 10 In Andhra Pradesh, Several Districts Flooded Far-Right Could Win In Germany State Polls For The First Time Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.