The two candidates, who were said to be the front runners for the post of Director, Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), were dropped after Chief Justice of India NV Ramana cited a Supreme Court guideline on appointment of police chiefs.

According to sources, CJI Ramana pointed out the top court's guidelines in the Prakash Singh case of March 2019, which made it clear that no officer with less than six months to retirement, should be appointed as police chief.