New Delhi: Former finance secretary Hasmukh Adhia on Friday was appointed as the non-executive chairman of Bank of Baroda, according to a government order.

“The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved his appointment as part-time non-official director as well as non-executive chairman on the board of Bank of Baroda for a period of three years,” the statement said.

Adhia, a 1981-batch IAS officer of Gujarat cadre who was known to be close to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, retired in November 30, 2018.

At the time of his superannuation, media reports indicated that Adhia, who was once tipped for the sought-after cabinet secretary position, was not likely to be interested in any post-retirement plum appointment.

In a farewell blogpost on Facebook, finance minister Arun Jaitley also indicated that Adhia had been offered various positions but had turned them down.

“The Government wanted to use his capability and experience in some alternate capacity. He had informed me earlier this year that he would not work for a single day after the 30th of November 2018. His time thereafter belongs to his favourite passion and of course his son,” Jaitley wrote at the time.

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In the run-up to the end of Adhia’s tenure, criticism had mounted against the finance ministry bureaucrat over poor implementation of the Goods and Services tax regime.

In addition to this, the BJP’s Subramanian Swamy had also levelled allegations that Adhia had a role in the Punjab National Bank scam and helped Nirav Modi flee. These allegations, however, were denied by the government.

Adhia’s appointment as non-executive chairman comes even as a merger is underway between Bank of Baroda,  Dena Bank and Vijaya Bank.

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