Former CBI Director P C Sharma, best known for orchestrating the extradition of Mumbai bomb blast accused Abu Salem from Portugal, passed away on Tuesday at the age of 82. According to his family, Sharma had been admitted to a private hospital three days prior and breathed his last at 7:45 pm.
Sharma, an IPS officer of the 1966 Assam cadre, served as the Chief of the CBI from April 30, 2001, to December 6, 2003, a period marked by a significant rise in white-collar crime. Recognised for his distinctive bamboo cap, a nod to his roots in Assam, Sharma’s career spanned decades in law enforcement, during which he took on various high-profile and sensitive roles.
His connection to the CBI began in 1978 when he first joined as Superintendent of Police. He was recalled by the Assam government in 1982 to help manage the state’s agitations and later took on the responsibility of identifying and deporting unauthorised intruders as Deputy Inspector General. In 1984, he returned to the CBI, where he worked for 21 years, ascending through the ranks until becoming Director.
Sharma also served as Director General of Police in Sikkim and was elected Vice President of Interpol. He was widely respected for his innovative methods in fighting financial crimes, including the recruitment of chartered accountants to tackle complex white-collar cases.
During his tenure, the CBI made several high-profile arrests, including the apprehension of an Additional Judge of the Delhi High Court in a corruption case. His leadership also saw raids on the office of then Minister of State for Finance Gingee Ramachandran over corruption charges.
In addition to his law enforcement career, Sharma was twice appointed a member of the National Human Rights Commission, serving under both NDA and UPA regimes.
Sharma’s wife passed away in December 2022. He is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, both lawyers. His cremation will take place on Wednesday.
(With inputs from PTI)