Patna, March 30: The Bihar Staff Selection Commission (BSSC) has got a new chairman exactly 40 days after the arrest of its former chairman, Sudhir Kumar, in the question paper leak case.

Sanjeev Kumar Sinha, a 1986-batch IAS officer, has been appointed the new BSSC chairman. He was earlier secretary of the Bihar Human Rights Commission and had served as director of Bihar AIDS Control Society, and the revenue board.

Sudhir was suspended almost a week after his arrest from his Hazaribagh residence in Jharkhand on February 24. Another IAS officer C.K. Anil, posted as officer on special duty at the BSSC, is eluding the SIT.

BSSC officials admitted several examinations were pending in the absence of a chairman. Even recruitment of auxiliary nurse midwifes is in a limbo. "Work has virtually come to a standstill since Sudhir's arrest," a senior BSSC official said.

Apart from Sudhir, BSSC secretary Parmeshwar Ram and data entry operator Avinash Kumar have been arrested and sources said some other officials are also on the SIT's radar.

Sanjeev's appointment has come as a surprise to many as the state branch of the IAS officers' association had earlier announced that no IAS officer would assume charge as chairman of the commission as a mark of protest over the police action against Sudhir.

The association members, who had vowed to fight tooth and nail to ensure justice to Sudhir, changed their stance after the state government served show-cause notices on IAS officers who protested in front of Raj Bhavan last month. "It would be worth seeing whether Sanjeev assumes charge or delays it," said an official posted at the general administration department.

Sanjeev, according to the notification issued by the department, has been given additional charge of Bihar state technical employees' selection commission.

SIT sources said action against Anil would intensify. Yesterday, the state government turned down his application for leave and directed the 1991-batch officer to join work within a week. "If he fails to abide by the directive, he will land in deep trouble," a senior IAS officer said.

The SIT is also all set to take Sudhir on police remand for further quizzing. Anantpreet Singh Brar alias Anand Brar, who was arrested from Delhi last week, has confessed that he used to entertain Sudhir, Parmeshwar and other BSSC officials in Delhi, police sources said.

Brar also admitted to close ties with Bihar Public Service Commission, Bihar Intermediate Council and Bihar School Examination Board officials, the sources said. The SIT has taken Brar on 48-hour police remand.