The Centre on Saturday appointed Indian Revenue Service officer Sanjay Kumar Mishra as the Enforcement Directorate’s interim director for three months.

Sources said the Narendra Modi government had wanted to give an extension to the incumbent director, Karnal Singh, who retired on Saturday, but changed its mind following the CBI controversy.

Mishra, said to be close to Nripendra Misra, principal secretary to the Prime Minister, has investigated high-profile cases including the National Herald case, involving members of the Gandhi family. He also headed the probe into allegations of tax evasion against NDTV and BSP boss Mayawati.

A home ministry official said the appointments committee of the cabinet, headed by Modi, cleared Mishra’s appointment. “The Prime Minister personally recommended Sanjay Mishra’s name for the top ED post,” the official said.

The appointment has been made “for a period of 3 months, or till the appointment of a regular incumbent, whichever is earlier”, an order from the appointments committee said. The ED functions under the finance ministry.

Sources said the 1984-batch IRS officer, who was chief commissioner of the income tax department in Delhi, has not been empanelled as an additional secretary in the central government, and so has been given the top ED charge in an additional capacity. The post of ED director is of a rank equivalent to that of an additional secretary.

He is expected to be empanelled soon and head the ED as its full-time director.