New Delhi:
In an unprecedented move by the Central government, Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Director Alok Verma and Special Director Rakesh Asthana were sent on leave till further notice and their offices were sealed on Wednesday. Joint Director M Nageshwar Rao, a 1986 batch officer, took charge as the interim chief of the investigaing agency with immediate effect.
He will "look after duties and functions of director CBI and shall take over the duties and functions with immediate effect," said a government order put out on Tuesday night.
The order followed a recommendation by Chief Vigilance Commissioner that the CBI's warring top two be sent on compulsory wait, as per reports in NDTV. According to sources, the CBI building was sealed and neither staff nor outsiders were being allowed. According to CBI sources, there will be no movement of officials or files at Verma and Asthana's office till 2 pm.
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The order implies that the government has sidelined all the three additional directors number three in the agency's hierarchy, including AK Sharma, whose name had figured in the complaint by Asthana.
The CBI had on Tuesday suspended its deputy superintendent of police Devender Kumar, who is facing bribery allegations involving the agency's second-in-command Rakesh Asthana. Earlier in the day, Kumar, who was arrested by the agency on Monday, was sent to a seven-day CBI custody.
Kumar, earlier the investigating officer in a case involving meat exporter Moin Qureshi, was arrested on the allegations of forgery in recording the statement of businessman Sathish Sana, who had alleged to have paid bribe to get relief in the case.
In his statement, Sana had purportedly said that he had in June this year discussed his case with Telugu Desam Party's Rajya Sabha member CM Ramesh who, after speaking to the CBI Director, had assured him that he would not be summoned again.
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On Tuesday, the Delhi High Court directed the CBI to maintain status quo on the criminal proceedings initiated against Rakesh Asthana, who has challenged the FIR lodged against him on bribery allegations.
Although the CBI cannot arrest Asthana till October 29, the next date of hearing, the high court clarified that there is no stay on the probe considering the nature and gravity of the case.
Besides Asthana, Kumar has also filed a separate petition seeking quashing of the FIR. Justice Najmi Waziri issued notices and sought responses of the probe agency and its Director Alok Kumar Verma as also Joint Director AK Sharma on both the petitions.
(With PTI inputs)
All sensitive cases including Vijay Mallya and Agusta Westland cases will be personally supervised by new interim Central Bureau of Investigation chief Nageshwar Rao.
Regarding, the charge the 3 opposition parties have made, I regard this charge as a rubbish. The fact that the 3 opposition parties are saying, that we know what the agency was going to do next, itself casts a serious doubt on the fairness process: FM Arun Jaitley
The CVCs recommendation and the government's action is intended to restore the institutional integrity and credibility of CBI: FM Arun Jaitley
To maintain the institutional integrity of CBI and in the interest of fairness, purely as an interim measure,they will sit out by going on leave. An SIT not functioning under either of these officers will investigate. This is in accordance with highest standards of fairness: FM
Director has been accused by Special Director. A Special Director has been accused by CBI. Two topmost officers of CBI have been accused. Now who will investigate it? Requirements of fairness & fair play have to be there. Government can't investigate it: FM Arun Jaitley
CBI is a premier investigative agency, for maintenance of its institutional integrity, it is a pre condition and absolutely essential for fair investigation: Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on transfer of CBI officers
CBI is a premier investigative agency, for maintenance of its institutional integrity, it is a pre condition and absolutely essential for fair investigation: FM Arun Jaitley on transfer of CBI officers pic.twitter.com/AfvAuvb0Tk
— ANI (@ANI) October 24, 2018
CBI is a premier investigatiive agency, for maintenance of its institutional integrity, it is a pre condition and absolutely essential for fair investigation: Finance Minister Aruin Jaitley on transfer of CBI officers
CBI DIG Tarun Gauba, SP Satish Dagar and Joint Director V Murugesan will probe charges against CBI Special Director Rakesh Asthana
I maintain that the integrity of the institution (CBI) is the most important. In an extraordinary situation, the government has full authority to act. At this time, an open fight between the top two people spells doomsday for the institution: Vikas Singh, former ASG
I maintain that the integrity of the institution (CBI) is the most important. In an extraordinary situation, the government has full authority to act. At this time, an open fight between the top two people spells doomsday for the institution: Vikas Singh, former ASG pic.twitter.com/8rHDKv3bco
— ANI (@ANI) October 24, 2018
CBI's JD (P)Arun Kumar Sharma, A Sai Manohar, HoZ V Murugesan and DIG Amit Kumar have been transferred/posted. They were a part of the team probing the case against CBI's Rakesh Asthana.
CBI DIG MAnish Kumar Sinha, DIG Taurn Gauba, DIG Jasbir Singh, DIG Anish Prasad, DIG KR Chaurasia, HoB Ram Gopal and SP Satish Dagar have been transferred. They were probing the case against CBI's Rakesh Asthana.
CBI DIG MAnish Kumar Sinha, DIG Taurn Gauba, DIG Jasbir Singh, DIG Anish Prasad, DIG KR Chaurasia, HoB Ram Gopal and SP Satish Dagar have been transferred. They were probing the case against CBI's Rakesh Asthana. pic.twitter.com/jOEkOMld9m
— ANI (@ANI) October 24, 2018
Dy SP CBI AK Bassi has been transferred and posted as Dy SP CBI, ACB Port Blair and Addnl SP CBI SS Gum transferred and posted as CBI, ACB Jabalpur, they were probing the case against CBI's Rakesh Asthana
Verma also challenges decision to give interim charge of agency to Joint Director M Nageshwar Rao
Gopal Sankaranarayanan, lawyer appearing for Alok Verma, told Supreme Court that the central government in the morning, asked Verma and Special Director Rakesh Asthana to go on leave compromising the investigation into many sensitive cases.
The Supreme Court will on Friday hear CBI Director Alok Kumar Verma's plea challenging the decision of sending him on leave.
