Former Supreme Court judge, Justice AM Khanwilkar, will assume the role of India's next Lokpal. As per the report, the decision was reached after a meeting on Wednesday by a high-level committee comprising Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, and Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury.

Former Attorney General of India KK Venugopal also participated in the meeting, during which the shortlisted names for the appointment of the next Lokpal were reportedly deliberated upon.

Justice Pradip Kumar Mohanty, the former Chief Justice of the Jharkhand High Court, presently holds the position of Acting Chairperson of the Lokpal. Initially appointed as a judicial member of the Lokpal in 2019, he assumed the role of Acting Chairperson in May 2022.

The Lokpal was instituted under the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act of 2013. Its primary responsibility is to investigate and inquire into allegations of corruption against public officials as outlined within the Lokpal Act.

Justice Khanwilkar has delivered several important judgements including dismissal of a plea against the exoneration of PM Narendra Modi in the 2002 Gujarat riots and upholding the wide powers of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) under the PMLA (Prevention of Money Laundering Act). Justice Khanwilkar also made important decisions on stopping hate speeches and ensuring that Board exams were not held during the pandemic in light of the health of children.