CBI vs CBI: CIC hands probe report on Alok Verma to Supreme Court with an apology

In the ongoing fued on the CBI vs CBI case, the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) handed the probe report of an investigation into corruption allegations against exiled CBI director Alok Verma to the Supreme Court today, with an apology.

The CIC apologised to the apex court for being a day late in submitting the document. Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi said that the case will be taken up on Friday. He also rebuked the vigilance body for submitting the report late even though the office was kept open on Sunday.

The concerned judges said, “We kept the registry open even on Sunday since morning but you didn’t come. You didn’t even inform us.”

The country’s top anti-corruption body, Central Vigilance Commission, said it had completed its report on Saturday but was unable to submit it on time. Tushar Mehta, representing the commission said, “We apologise for the delay. We came to court one hour late but the Registry was open only up to 11:30 pm.”

Today, the CIC has also submitted another report on decisions taken by M Nageswar Rao, the officer who took over as the interim chief after Alok Verma was sent on forced leave last month.

In the CBI vs CBI case, Alok Verma and his deputy Rakesh Asthana, the two top officers of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), were both sent on leave after they accused each other of taking bribe in the investigation of a businessman.

Initially the exiled CBI chief, Alok Verma had launched an investigation and the CBI even filed a case against Mr Asthana, who in turn wrote to the centre and the vigilance panel against his boss.

Alok Verma went to the Supreme Court last month, which then asked the vigilance commission to complete its inquiry against the CBI chief within two weeks. The court had also mentioned that Nageswar Rao would not take any major decision and only stick to administrative calls.

Earlier in the case, Alok Verma had appeared before the three-member vigilance body and rebutted the allegations against him.

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