The Narendra Modi government on Wednesday said that it can’t probe the two top CBI officers and that it was up to the CVC to look into the matter.

Addressing media in New Delhi today, Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said that it (the CBI feud) was an ‘extraordinary situation.’ However, he rebuffed the stance that the government will do anything about it. Jaitley maintained that it was the CVC and the CBI to look into the feud. 

Talking about the both senior officers being sent on leave, Jaitley said: ‘Director of CBI has been accused by Special Director. A Special Director has been accused by CBI. Two topmost officers of CBI have been accused. Now who will investigate it? Requirements of fairness and fair play have to be there. Government can't investigate it.’

Talking about the late night development, Jaitley said, ‘CVC in its meeting yesterday said neither these 2 officers (Arun Verma & Rakesh Asthana) nor any agency under their supervision can investigate charges against them. So the officers will sit out by going on leave. It's an interim measure. The CVCs recommendation and the government's action is intended to restore the institutional integrity and credibility of the CBI.’

So what will happen next? Jaitley explained that ‘the officers will go on leave, and a SIT not functioning under any of these officers will probe the matter. Officers were sent on leave for a fair probe. SIT will probe both officers. The CBI will decide on the framing of the SIT, not the government. ‘

 ‘Every person is entitled to the presumption of innocence so we will not prejudge. We cannot make mockeries of investigations,’ he also added. 

The statement comes after early morning developments in which Nageshwar Rao was appointed as interim director of the CBI. Meanwhile, Alok Verma has moved the Supreme Court against his removal from the top post.