New Delhi: In a sudden move, the government on Friday removed CBI Additional Director M. Nageshwar Rao and posted him as a Director General Fire Services, Civil Defence and Home Guard.

A 1986-batch IPS officer from Odisha cadre, Rao held the position of interim chief of the CBI twice.

According to an official order, he was removed from the post of CBI additional director and posted as a Director General Fire Services, Civil Defence and Home Guard.

The government in its order said, "Upon the curtailment of tenure of M. Nageswar Rao, IPS (OD 1986), Additional Director, CBI, by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet and placing of his service with the Ministry of Home Affairs, the competent authority has approved his appointment as Director General, Fire Services, Civil Defence and Home Guard by temporarily downgrading the post to the level of Additional Director General (Level-15 of pay matrix), for a combined tenure up to his superannuation on July 31, 2020 or until furhter orders, whichever is earlier."

The government had decided to remove former agency director Alok Verma and his deputy Rakesh Asthana amidst an unprecedented tussle between the two.

They had levelled allegations of corruption against each other after which the government handed over the charge to Rao till the appointment of Rishi Kumar Shukla as the new CBI director in February this year.

M Nageshwar Rao, popularly known as MNR in the IPS circles, he hails from Bore Narsapur of Mangampeta mandal in Warangal district. He is the second Telugu man and first from Telangana to head the CBI, the former being CBI Director K. Vijaya Rama Rao.

Also Read: Who Is Interim CBI Director M Nageshwar Rao aka MNR