Thursday, October 25, 2018

SC orders CVC inquiry into CBI director Alok Verma to be completed in two weeks

The Supreme Court on Friday ordered the Central Vigilance Commission inquiry into CBI director Alok Verma , who along with special director Rakesh Asthana was asked to go on leave after an internal fight between the two, to be completed in two weeks under the supervision of retired SC Judge A K Patnaik.

Calling the matter one of "national importance" that cannot brook any delay, CJI Ranjan Gogoi and justices S K Kaul and K M Joseph said a retired SC judge would supervise the CVC probe "because of the importance of the case for the country and is a one time exception without casting aspersions on any constitutional or statutory authority."

The top court also asked M Nageshwar Rao, who was named interim CBI director by the central government, not to take any policy decision and do only routine job to keep the central agency functioning, essentially serving as an administrative head till the inquiry was completed.

The court ordered the Centre to give in a sealed cover the decisions taken till date by interim director Rao after being assigned the charge.


The court was hearing a petition filed by Verma challenging the central government's order to send him on leave.


Earlier on Friday, Asthana also moved the SC against the Centre's decision to send him on leave.


Following an internal fight between Verma and Asthana, the top two officers of the CBI, the government had appointed M Nageshwar Rao as interim chief of the CBI with "immediate effect" and placed the top two officers of the central agency on leave.

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