New Delhi, Feb 3 (IT): Shortly after senior Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge sent a letter to Prime Minister Modi expressing his displeasure over Rishi Kumar Shukla being appointed as the new CBI chief, Union Minister Jitendra Singh said said Kharge's dissent was unfounded and not based on facts.

"Whatever is being said by him is totally unfounded and not based on facts. For the selection of CBI Director, a very objective criteria was followed," Jitendra Singh said.

Kharge's letter to PM Narendra Modi questioned why an officer with zero experience in anti-corruption was selected as the new CBI chief.

Kharge, according to sources, wanted Javeed Ahmed to be the next CBI chief who was recently shunted out by the Yogi Government from the post of DGP of UP police.

In a move that may have surprised opposition parties, the Prime Minister Modi-led selection committee on Saturday appointed Rishi Kumar Shukla, a 1983 batch IPS officer, as the new director of Central Bureau of Investigation.

Shukla, a Madhya Pradesh cadre officer, is considered to be close to former CM of MP, Shivraj Singh Chauhan.

Top government sources told India Today TV that Shukla was chosen by the selection panel with a 2:1 ratio. While the Chief Justice of India and Prime Minister voted in favour of Rishi Kumar Shukla as new CBI chief, leader of Congress in Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge expressed his dissent and voted against Shukla's appointment.

While 80 officers were eligible for the post of CBI director, five names were shortlisted based on experience, integrity and seniority.

A few names including the DG of Gujarat Shivanandan Jha was discussed during the Friday meeting of the selection panel at the PM's residence, but no consensus was reached as some of the officials had inquiries from the vigilance department against them. Some others had other allegations and also according to sources.

Kharge also said he was not ready for an officer of a Gujarat cadre to be the next CBI chief.