The Supreme Court on Friday directed the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) to complete the enquiries against both CBI Director Alok Verma his deputy Rakesh Asthana who were sent on leave by the government on Tuesday. The controversial officer, N Nageshwar Rao, who was appointed as interim director has been directed not to take any decisions. More directly, any decision taken by Rao has to be communicated to th Court. The court, who was hearing Alok Verma’s plea challenging the government order, also appointed one of its former judges, Justice AK Patnaik, to supervise the entire inquiry.
The Congress, meanwhile, is staging an agitation, led by party chief Rahul Gandhi, outside the agency’s headquarters against the government’s move. On Thursday, Rahul hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, terming the Centre’s as a “panic reaction” by the PM who knew that he would be “finished” if the CBI began an inquiry into the Rafale fighter jet deal.
The Supreme Court has issued notice to Centre in petition by Alok Verma and Common Cause challenging leave order by Central government. Most significantly, the Interim Director of CBI M Nagehswar Rao should not take any major policy decision, orders Supreme Court and all decisions taken by M Nageshwar Rao from October 23 to be submitted in sealed cover to SC.
The next hearing will be on November 12.
Senior advocate Prashant Bhushan who has been spear heading this battle tweeted:
“SC virtually disables the new Dir CBI, Nageshwar Rao appointed by the govt by replacing Verma & restrained him from taking any major or policy decision. All decisions taken by him under scanner. The enquiry by CVC against Verma will be supervised by retd SC judge & done in 2 weeks”
Read about the Controversial Officer hand-picked by the PMO under Narendra Modi to head the CBI here.