Amidst the unprecedented tussle between the top two officers of the Central Bureau of Investigation, the Central Government divested the CBI Director Alok Verma and his deputy Special Director Rakesh Asthana of all their powers and sent them on leave pending enquiry against them in the alleged corruption charges.
The decision was taken on the recommendation of the Central Vigilance Commission which stated that Alok Verma was not cooperating in inquiry in the allegations of corruption and criminal misconduct levelled against him by Rakesh Asthana and it would be only fair to take both off duty till the charges are probed. Furthermore, M. Nageswara Rao, a 1986 Odisha cadre IPS officer who joined the CBI in 2016 was appointed as interim Director of India’s premier investigating agency.
Rakesh Asthana had complained of corruption against the CBI Director. Per contra, the Bureau filed a case under Prevention of Corruption Act, 1968 against its own Special Director Rakesh Asthana and his deputy DSP Devender Kumar. Asthana had approached the Delhi High Court challenging the FIR filed against him in the said bribery case. The Court while ordering the status quo has posted the matter for next hearing on October 29. The matter relates to a case involving meat exporter Moin Qureshi, which was headed by Asthana, while Kumar was its chief investigating officer. The CBI has accused the duo of forgery in recording the statement of Satish Sana, another accused in the case.
Alok Verma has approached the Supreme Court against the order of the Central Government that stripped him off his powers and sent him on forced leave. The Supreme Court is likely to take up the matter today.