Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) director Alok Verma on Wednesday moved the Supreme Court challenging the Central government’s decision to send him on leave and appointing an interim chief in his place.
The Centre had asked Special Director Rakesh Asthana and Verma to go on leave, and put N Nageswar Rao, a joint director in the CBI, to head the CBI in Verma’s place on a temporary basis. The move was taken past midnight.
Verma on Wednesday moved the Supreme Court against the decision and the matter will be heard on Friday, October 26.
The CBI had booked Asthana in a bribery case, naming him as an accused in an FIR filed last week. Asthana wrote to the government saying a “false FIR” has been lodged against him. He also made allegations of corrupt practices by the CBI chief.
Meanwhile, a Delhi court on Tuesday allowed the CBI to interrogate its Deputy Superintendent of Police Devender Kumar in its custody for seven days. He was arrested in connection with bribery charges involving Asthana.
Senior lawyer Prashant Bhushan meanwhile said that he will challenge the leave order of Verma because he was removed in order to “protect” Asthana.
According to Bhushan, only the committee of the PM, Chief Justice of India and the Leader of Opposition has the authority to remove the CBI director and if there is some disciplinary action that needs to be taken. Bhushan said that Asthana was already facing allegations of corruption when he was brought into the CBI. Also, he said that Nageshwar Rao, who has now been made CBI director on a temporary basis, is also facing allegations of disproportionate assets and shielding corrupt officials.
Bhushan further said outside the court that he will challenge all this in court and that these steps were being taken to shield Asthana. He said that despite Verma raising the issues of charges against Rao, the CVC had appointed him as the director.
The Opposition attacked the Narendra Modi government for asking Verma to go on leave. Congress chief Rahul Gandhi tweeted that the CBI chief was collecting documents relating to the Rafale deal and that he had been forcibly sent on leave. Gandhi added that the PM’s message was clear: anyone found close to [questioning] the Rafale deal would be removed. He warned that the country and democracy were in danger.
West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee tweeted that it was “unfortunate” that the CBI was now acting as BBI (BJP Bureau of Investigation).
