Alok Verma, director of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), has been transferred out by the high-powered committee chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The decision was taken on Thursday — within two days of the Supreme Court reinstating him in the post.
The Centre had asked Verma to go on leave three months back after he and his deputy Rakesh Asthana brought charges of corruption against each other. Verma then moved the Supreme Court against the government order arguing that the Centre had no power to remove him from the post.
On Tuesday, the Supreme Court had cancelled the order that removed Verma, reinstated him and asked the high-powered committee consisting of the Prime Minister of India, the Chief Justice of India and the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha to take a call on whether any action against Alok Verma is required.
The high powered committee met for over two hours on Thursday to take the decision. Verma is the first CBI chief to face such action. His tenure as CBI director was till January 31.
The meeting was also attended by Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge and Justice AK Sikri (who was nominated by Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi to represent him). The committee had also met on Wednesday and Kharge had been quoted saying that he wanted to go through certain documents in this respect and also believed that Verma should be given the opportunity to appear before the committee.
According to some reports, Verma was removed on charges of corruption and dereliction of duty. He is expected to be posted in the National Human Rights Commission.
