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CBI vs CBI LATEST updates: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday accused the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of misusing the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for political gains. “The CBI has been repeatedly misused by the BJP, which is trying to use the probe agency for political gains and turn it into ‘His Master’s Voice’,” she said, referring to the fiasco surrounding Alok Verma. “The BJP is destroying institutions like the CBI and the RBI,” she said. The Committee has removed CBI Chief Alok Verma based on allegations of Rakesh Asthana, whose plea to quash the FIR against him was dismissed by High Court and ordered a time-bound investigation against him, Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi said. He also said that CVC neither has a role of appointing the CBI Chief nor removing him. The Congress party on Friday welcomed the Delhi High Court’s decision to dismiss the pleas filed by Rakesh Asthana and Devender Kumar seeking quashing of the FIR filed against them. Verma, who had been ordered to take over as director general of fire services, said he was transferred on the basis of “false, unsubstantiated and frivolous allegations” made by only one person, who was inimical to him, in a statement issued at midnight on Thursday. Former CBI chief Alok Verma submitted his resignation from service on Friday, a day after he was removed from his post by a high powered committee. Verma said in his resignation letter that it was a moment of “collective introspection”. A statement by Alok Verma says, “natural justice was scuttled and the entire process was turned upside down in ensuring that the undersigned is removed from the post of the director.” In a letter to the DoPT secretary, Verma said, “The selection committee has not provided the undersigned an opportunity to explain the details as recorded by the CVC before arriving at the decision." Earlier in the day, interim CBI director M Nageshwar Rao cancelled all transfer decisions taken by his ousted predecessor Alok Verma, reverting to the position of officials as on 8 January. Rao had taken charge of the agency at 9 pm Thursday. The fresh order issued by Rao on Friday declared all the orders issued by Verma as “non est”. “…And consequently all actions in pursuance thereof by all concerned are also hereby declared as null and void. In other words, status-quo ante as on 8 January, 2019 stands restored,” the order accessed said. Verma, after being reinstated by the Supreme Court on 8 January, had undone all the transfers done by Rao. He had also appointed a new investigation officer to probe the case against Special Director Rakesh Asthana. A high-powered committee comprising Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Justice AK Sikri and leader of Congress in Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge had transferred Verma out of the CBI in a split verdict Thursday. The government gave the charge of the agency to Additional Director Nageshwar Rao who was also in-charge for 77 days when Verma and his deputy Asthana were on forced leave. The Supreme Court had earlier stopped Rao from taking any major policy decisions. However, no such condition applies on his present tenure.
CBI vs CBI LIVE updates: BJP destroying institutions like CBI and RBI for political gain, says Mamata Banerjee
CBI vs CBI LIVE updates: “The CBI has been repeatedly misused by the BJP, which is trying to use the probe agency for political gains and turn it into ‘His Master’s Voice’,” Mamata Banerjee said, referring to the fiasco surrounding Alok Verma.
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CBI being misused by BJP for political gains: Mamata
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday accused the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of misusing the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for political gains. “The CBI has been repeatedly misused by the BJP, which is trying to use the probe agency for political gains and turn it into ‘His Master’s Voice’,” she said, referring to the fiasco surrounding Alok Verma. “The BJP is destroying institutions like the CBI and the RBI,” she said.
Congress says Verma removed to protect govt against Rafael charges
“Is it not strange that Rakesh Asthana, who himself is under investigation in an FIR, was the basis of CBI Chief Alok Verma’s removal? This whole action has been done by the government to protect themselves against Rafael or other charges,” Singhvi said in the press conference.
Office of CVC has been misused by govt: Singhvi
The full basis for the removal of the CBI director was the report of the CVC, while the CVC neither appoints nor can remove the CBI chief. “The office of the CVC has been misused by the government,” Singhvi said.
Office of CVC has been misused by govt: Singhvi
The full basis for the removal of the CBI director was the report of the CVC, while the CVC neither appoints nor can remove the CBI chief. “The office of the CVC has been misused by the government,” Singhvi said.
6 out 10 allegations of CVC unsubstantiated: Congress
Six out of the ten allegations made by CVC are considered unsubstantiated by the CVC itself and the rest four are considered worthy of future investigation. Regarding one of the charges, the CVC report says that there is “no evidence of payment of bribe”, and that “further investigation required for verifying circumstantial evidence”, Singhvi said while attacking the govt over the ‘hasty’ decision.
Least the committee could have done was to listen to Verna’s defence, says Abhishek Manu Singhvi
“It is the Committee that gets to decide the removal of the chief of office as high as the CBI. The least you have to do as a Committee is to hear his side before removing him. Mallikarjun Kharge repeatedly asked for the same,” said Singhvi in the press conference on Friday.
Congress attacks Centre over Verma’s removal, Abhishek Manu Singhvi says CVC has no role in matter
The Committee has removed CBI Chief Alok Verma based on allegations of Rakesh Asthana, whose plea to quash the FIR against him was dismissed by High Court and ordered a time-bound investigation against him, Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi said. He also said that CVC neither has a role of appointing the CBI Chief nor removing him.
Congress welcomes Delhi HC order, looks forward to investigation against ‘Modi_ji_’s blue-eyed boy’
The Congress party on Friday welcomed the Delhi High Court’s decision to dismiss the pleas filed by Rakesh Asthana and Devender Kumar seeking quashing of the FIR filed against them.
‘The undersigned may be deemed as superannuated with effect from today,’ says Verma in resignation letter
In a letter to the Secretary, Department of Personnel and Training, the former CBI, said, “The undersigned is no longer Director, CBI and has already crossed his superannuation age for DG Fire Services, Civil Defence and Home Guards. The undersigned may be deemed as superannuated with effect from today.”
Mukul Rohatgi slams Verma for criticising move**,** says the matter has spoilt the name of the agency
Former AG Mukul Rohatgi on Thursday said: “Don’t think Alok Verma’s statements are in good taste. If the prime minister and a senior SC judge, after seeing the CVC report, gave a decision, then it’s not fair for Verma to say the decision is bad. The government should have settled this earlier. It has spoilt the name of the agency and CBI.
Kapil Sibal calls Verma a ‘caged parrot’, says govt feared he might ‘spill beans’
Reacting on Alok Verma’s removal, senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal tweeted that, “The Committee ensured the caged parrot did not fly away fearing the parrot might spill the beans by parroting the goings on in the corridors of power.”
Tried to uphold integrity of CBI while attempts were being made to destroy it: Verma
Verma on Thursday night said that the CBI being a prime investigating agency dealing in corruption in high public places is an institution whose independence should be preserved and protected. “It must function without external influences. I have tried to uphold the integrity of the institution while attempts were being made to destroy it. The same can be seen from the orders of the central government and the CVC dated 23 October, 2018, which were without jurisdiction and were set aside,” he said.
Verma said that it was “sad” that he was transferred to another post pursuant to the orders of the committee on the basis of “false, unsubstantiated and frivolous allegations made by only one person, who was inimical to him”.
Recap: Alok Verma was sacked by a three-member committee headed by Narendra Modi
A high-powered committee headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday removed Alok Verma as the CBI director in a 2:1 decision. Modi and Justice AK Sikri — representing Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi who had recused himself from the panel — favoured Verma’s removal. Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge, representing the opposition, put up a dissenting note.
Verma is possibly the first chief in the history of the agency to face such action. His service tenure ends on 31 January and was given the charge of DG Fire Services, Civil Defence and Home Guards.
‘Was transferred on basis of false, unsubstantiated and frivolous allegations made by only one person’, says Verma
Verma, who had been ordered to take over as director general of fire services, said he was transferred on the basis of “false, unsubstantiated and frivolous allegations” made by only one person, who was inimical to him, in a statement issued at midnight on Thursday_._
Alok Verma’s letter to Department of Personnel and Training
Alok Verma resigned from his post at the CBI today and in his letter said, “This is a moment for collective introspection, to state the least.”
Former CBI chief Alok Verma resigns from service
Former CBI chief Alok Verma submitted his resignation from service on Friday, a day after he was removed from his post by a high powered committee. Verma said in his resignation letter that it was a moment of “collective introspection”.
Charges under FIR are matter of investigation, says Delhi HC
While hearing the pleas filed by Rakesh Asthana and others, the Delhi High Court said, “No doubt, registration of an FIR against a public servant will be a cause of great concern and stress for the public servant. Charges under the FIR are a matter of investigation. It is important that law presumes a person is innocent until proven guilty.”
No interim protection to Asthana
The Delhi High Court refused to grant interim protection to CBI special director Rakesh Asthana but asked the CBI to maintain status quo for 2 weeks. The CBI will conclude investigation against Rakesh Asthana and Devender Kumar in 10 weeks.
Natural justice scuttled, says Alok Verma
A statement by Alok Verma says, “natural justice was scuttled and the entire process was turned upside down in ensuring that the undersigned is removed from the post of the director.”
Delhi HC dismisses Rakesh Asthana’s plea
The Delhi High Court dismissed plea filed by CBI’s Special Director Rakesh Asthana and DySP Devender Kumar plea seeking quashing of FIR filed against them.
Alok Verma declines to take over as DG Fire Service
Ousted CBI director Alok Verma has declined to take over as DG Fire Service, Civil Defence and Home Guards. In a letter to the the DoPT secretary, Verma said, “The selection committee has not provided the undersigned an opportunity to explain the details as recorded by the CVC before arriving at the decision."