New Delhi: Alok Verma, reinstated as chief of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) by the Supreme Court barely 48 hours ago, was removed this evening by a committee led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which said he “had not acted with the integrity expected of him”. Mr Verma lost his high-profile job just weeks before his retirement on January 31. The decision was two against one: PM Modi and Justice AK Sikri representing Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi who had recused himself from the panel favoured Mr Verma’s removal. Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge, representing the opposition, put up a dissenting note.
Here are few highlights of this case,
Alok Verma, on his return to work three months after being sent on leave by the government in a midnight swoop, took a series of controversial decisions; he cancelled the transfers of 10 officers and transferred five others.
The PM-led panel based its decision on the report of the Central Vigilance Commission, which found evidence of him influencing investigation in the Moin Qureshi case. The CVC found evidence against Mr Verma in several other cases as well.
Mallikarjun Kharge, the dissenting member of the panel, questioned how Mr Verma could be removed without a hearing and argued that he should be restored to “ensure independence and neutrality of CBI”. Contending that the CVC report lacked “substantial findings” against Mr Verma, Mr Kharge — who had opposed his appointment in 2017 — said his tenure should be extended as he lost 77 days after being “illegally’ transferred”.
The Supreme Court had reinstated Mr Verma on Tuesday, scrapping the government’s October order sending him on compulsory leave. The court, however, said he was not make any policy decision till the PM-led committee took a call on his status.
Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi dropped out of the committee and nominated Justice Sikri as he was part of the bench that restored Mr Verma.
Mr Verma has been appointed the chief of Fire Services and Home Guards. For now, Nageshwar Rao will replace him at the agency. .
The accusations against Mr Verma was levelled by his number 2, Rakesh Asthana, in October, when the two officers traded corruption charges in an unprecedented public demonstration of rift within the country’s premier investigating agency.
As the government sent Mr Verma and Rakesh Asthana on immediate leave and appointed an interim chief in a midnight swoop on October 23, the officer approached the Supreme Court.
The top court’s order on Tuesday reinstating him is seen as a major loss of face for the government, which is under opposition attack over allegations of using the investigating agency as a tool against political rivals.
Today, the Congress tweeted, “By removing #AlokVerma from his position without giving him the chance to present his case, PM Modi has shown once again that he’s too afraid of an investigation, either by an independent CBI director or by Parliament via JPC”.