Friday, October 26, 2018

SC Monitered CVC Probe against Alok Verma


SC Monitered CVC Probe against Alok Verma

New Delhi: Supreme Court led by Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi on Friday 26th October 2018, ordered the Central Vigilance Commission to continue investigation against Alok Verma under the supervision of a retired Supreme Court judge and set a two weeks deadline to complete the probe.


Nageshwar Rao will remain interim CBI chief for now, but Decisions taken by him from October 23 till date shall not be implemented, said  Supreme Courtand posted the case on November 12 for next hearing.

CJI ordered to place all decisions taken by  Rao in sealed cover. He also asked Rao to place the CVC investigation report in sealed cover and submit it to the Court.

On Friday’s hearing, in addition to a petition by Verma, Court also included a petition by non-profit organisation Common Cause, which also wanted the court to assign a special team to probe corruption charges against CBI special director RakeshAsthana.

Verma and Asthana have been locked in a feud with both accusing the other of corruption, a situation that the government cited to send out a dramatic order issued overnight to send them both off duty. The Central Vigilance Commission said it had attempted to look into allegations against Verma but he didn’t cooperate.


Both petitions – Verma’s as well as the one filed by Common Cause – sought the removal of Asthana from CBI and the quashing of the order issued to appoint M Nageswar Rao as interim chief.

The Supreme Court said the CVC inquiry on allegations and counter-allegations in the nasty feud between CBI Director Alok Verma and Special Director Rakesh Asthana should be completed in 10 days under supervision of court. The Centre and the CBI were asked by the SC to provide the CVC report to court in a sealed cover within 10 days. Upon this direction, the CVC pleaded that 10 days for CBI enquiry is not enough as it has to look into several documents. The top court then granted two weeks' time to the CVC for concluding the probe.

Earlier, CBI Special Director Rakesh Asthana also moved Supreme Court challenging the decision of the Centre to divest him of his duties and sending him on leave.

The Supreme Court Friday commenced hearing on the petition filed by CBI Director Alok Kumar Verma challenging the decision of the Centre to divest him of his duties and sending him on leave. A bench of Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justices S K Kaul and K M Joseph heard the plea.

Senior advocate F S Nariman is advanced the arguments on behalf of the CBI chief. The counsel submitted that the CBI Director was appointed with the approval of a selection panel having the Prime Minister, the Leader of Opposition and the Chief Justice of India. Nariman referred to the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) and Centre's orders divesting Verma of his duty.

He also cited the Vineet Narain judgment to support Verma's pleas. Verma has also sought stay of the Centre's order asking him to proceed on leave and giving the interim charge of his post to Joint Director M Nageswara Rao, a 1986 batch Odisha-cadre IPS officer.

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