Ex-CBI chief Alok Verma resigns after refusing take charge as Fire Services DG, says wasn't given chance to explain

Ousted CBI Director Alok Verma on Friday resigned after refusing to take charge as DG Fire Service, Civil Defence and Home Guards, according to several media reports. Verma, in a letter to the Secretary of The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), 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.” “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 CBI,” Verma noted in the letter. The sacked CBI chief also wrote: “The decisions made yesterday will not just be a reflection on my functioning but will become a testimony on how the CBI as an institution will be treated by any government through the CVC, who is appointed by majority members of the ruling government. This is a moment for collective introspection, to state the least.” “Also, it may be noted that the undersigned already superannuated as on 31 January, 2017 and was only serving Government as Director, CBI till 31 January, 2019, as the same was fixed tenure role. The undersigned is no longer Director, CBI and has already crossed the superannuation age for DG Fire Service, Civil Defence and Home Guards. Accordingly, the undersigned may be deemed as superannuated with effect from today,” Verma wrote. Verma on Thursday was removed from the post of CBI director unceremoniously by a high-powered selection committee comprising Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Justice AK Sikri, and Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge. Verma was sacked on charges of corruption and dereliction of duty. Following his dismissal, Verma claimed that he was transferred on the basis of "false, unsubstantiated and frivolous allegations" made by only one person who was inimical to him. Breaking his silence over the issue, Verma, in a statement to PTI late on Thursday night, said the CBI being a prime investigating agency dealing in corruption in high public places is an institution whose independence should be preserved and protected. Verma termed it “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”. Meanwhile, the charge of the CBI has been given to Additional Director M Nageshwar Rao, said a government order issued on Thursday evening. Rao on Friday also reversed and nullified the transfer orders that had been put in place by shunted first-in-command Alok Verma over the past two days. With inputs from agencies