CVC report doesn't have enough material to disqualify Alok Verma as CBI chief, says Mallikarjun Kharge in dissent note

Two days after CBI director Alok Verma was reinstated by the Supreme Court, a high-powered selection panel, headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, removed Verma from office. However, the decision to oust him as the CBI chief was not a unanimous one. The leader of Congress in the Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge dissented.

After examining the contents of a Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) report, which detailed the allegations and charges against Verma, Kharge said “there can be no alternative, but to restore” Verma “full range of authority enjoyed by the office of the director”.

The Congress leader also called for an extension of Verma’s tenure by an additional 77 days, which is the number of days lost by him on account of “the patently illegal orders of the CVC and Department of Personal and Training (DoPT)” dated 23 October, 2018.

Kharge said that out of the 10 allegations, “six are found to be unsubstantiated or false, four are found to be in need of further investigation as an inconclusive finding has been arrived at. Four of the charges are found to be prima facie substantiated and on the basis of circumstantial evidence, found to be unflattering to Alok Verma”.

This is the second time Kharge has objected to Verma’s removal. Incidently, he had earlier objected to his appointment, too. The committee had met for over two hours on Thursday to decide the fate of Verma, reinstated by a Supreme Court order on Tuesday after he was sent on forced leave by the government.