Alok Verma still the boss, CBI says a day before Supreme Court hears his petition

If Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is to be believed, top two warring officials Alok Verma and Rakesh Asthana still remain the Director and Special Director, respectively of the agency. This assertion came a day before Supreme Court hears the petition of Verma, who challenged the government’s move to send him on forced leave.

In a series of events that took place in the wee hours on Monday, Verma and Asthana, both were sent on compulsory leave following the Central Vigilance Commission’s (CVC) suggestion after the officer traded charges against each other.

Interim chief Nageswar Rao took charge of the agency at 1:45 am on Monday soon after he was appointed the makeshift in-charge of the agency by the centre. After the government order arrived, Rao immediately rushed to CBI headquarters in the capital to take charge of the body.

Maintaining that both officers — Verma and Asthana — remain in their positions and Rao has been assigned to oversee the duties and functions of the agency ‘in the interim period’. Rao will be in position till the time CVC examines all the allegations traded between the top two officers.

It may be recalled that the CVS urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to send both Alok Verma and Rakesh Asthana till the entire case is probed in a free and fair manner. “Neither of the two officers, nor any agency under their supervision can investigate charges against them,” KV Chowdary, the Chief Vigilance Officer, had said in a report he submitted on Tuesday.

Soon after Prime Minister Modi’s approval for the shuffle, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval apparently set the process in motion. Almost 12 officers who were probing the charges against Rakesh Asthana were transferred to various departments.

Within moments of the news of reshuffle was circulated, opposition pounced on the government accusing it of violating the CBI Act. According to Congress, the CBI supremo has a fixed two-year term and the government cannot replace him without the consent of the Prime Minister, Chief Justice of India and the Leader of the opposition.

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