New Delhi, November 16: The Supreme Court will on Friday consider CVC report of inquiry into allegations of corruption against CBI director Alok Verma who has challenged the Centre’s order divesting him of his duties and sending him on leave along with Special Director Rakesh Asthana.
A Bench headed by Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi is scheduled to take up Verma’s petition along with CVC’s report, which was submitted to it in a sealed cover on Monday.
As ordered by it on October 26, CBI Interim Director M Nageswara Rao too filed a report regarding decisions taken by him between October 23 to 26, including transferred ordered by him.
The top court – which had on October 26 asked the CVC to complete its inquiry supervised by former Supreme Court judge AK Patnaik in two weeks – would consider the CVC’s report of inquiry into allegations made in the August 24 note/letter of the Cabinet Secretary against Verma.
But even before the top court could peruse the CVC’s report, a section of the media reported has already reported that the probe against Verma yielded “nothing substantial”.
The top court – which had restrained CBI interim director M Nageswara Rao from taking any policy or major decisions and asked him to perform only routine functions essential to keep the probe agency functional – will also examine all decisions taken by him which have to be placed before it in a sealed cover.
At the root of the controversy is an intense infighting between Verma and Special Director Rakesh Asthana, who have been at loggerheads for months.
After Asthana wrote to the CVC against Verma, the CBI registered a corruption case against its special director who had to rush to the Delhi High Court for protection.
Before passing any orders, the Bench would hear arguments from Verma; and the Centre, the CVC, Rao and Asthana who were issued notices by the court on October 26.
Verma has contended that he was appointed for a two-year term with the approval of a selection panel comprising the Prime Minister, the Leader of Opposition and the CJI. The government could not have curtailed it, he said citing SC’s 1997 Vineet Narain judgment and amendments in the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act under which CBI was set up.
On October 25, NGO Common Cause had moved the Supreme Court demanding a court-monitored probe by an SIT into allegations of corruption against the CBI officials. Verma has also challenged the government’s order of asking Rao to take charge as acting CBI chief.
Asthana, who has been divested of his powers as special director and sent on leave, too, has challenged the government’s decision.
