A humble farmer’s son who rose to CBI chief

Warangal: From the countryside tiny village Bore Narsapur to swanky 11-storey CGO at Lodhi Road in Delhi from where the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), country’s premier investigative agency, operates, it’s a tough journey for Mannem Nageshwar Rao, the 1986 Batch IPS officer of the Odisha cadre.  Bore Narsapur under Mangapet mandal in Jayashankar-Bhupalpally district that barely has a population of 2,000 is one of those nondescript villages a stone’s throw away from River Godavari. 

The village on Wednesday woke up to find its son of the soil is the new boss of the CBI. Thanks to Rao who brought accolades not only to his village, 1,570 kms south of Delhi, but also to all Telugu-speaking people in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. Incidentally, he is the second person from Telangana to hold the coveted post of CBI Director while K Vijaya Rama Rao was the first.  Born into a farming family, Rao completed his school education in Mangapet and Thimmampet, close to his village.

Despite their financial limitations, Rao’s parents Seshamma-Pichaiah sent him to Warangal where he pursued Intermediate in AVV College and BSc (Industrial Chemistry) in CKM Arts and Science College. Later, he completed his postgraduation in Osmania University.  Rao even though he was pursuing PhD in Madras IIT kept his focus on Civil Services. In 1986, his hard work saw him to become the IPS of Odisha cadre. He served as the Superintendent of Police (SP) in Mayurbhanj, Nabarangapur, Bargarh and Jagatsinghpur districts. This apart, he also held the posts of Crime Branch SP, Railways at Rourkela and Cuttack, and chief of the Odisha Fire Service. He has achieved several distinctions during his career including becoming the first officer in Odisha to use DNA fingerprinting while investigating a rape case in Jagatsinghpur district in 1996.  

He won the Chief Minister's award for his contribution during cyclones Phailin in 2013 and Hudhud in 2014. President's Police Medal for Meritorious Service, President's Police Medal for Distinguished Service, Special Duty Medal and Odisha Governor's Medal were among others Rao had received in his distinguished career. When Rao was the Additional Director General of Odisha Police, the government appointed him as the Joint Director of the CBI for a term of five years in 2016.