A row had emerged after CVC declined to share details of Asthana’s complaint with the investigation agency.
Hours after Alok Verma was removed as CBI Director, the government Wednesday said the chief of the central investigating agency did not cooperate with the CVC in the probe against him and defended its decision to send him on leave. The government said that despite repeated assurances and reminders, Verma failed to furnish the records/files before the Commission.
The CVC has observed that the CBI Director did not cooperate and failed to furnish documents sought by the Commission relating to serious allegations against him.
Special Director Rakesh Asthana had filed a complaint against Verma with the Central Vigilance Commission on August 24. A row erupted after CVC declined to share details of Asthana’s complaint with the CBI.
In a lengthy statement published on the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting website, the government said CVC, on receipt of a complaint on August 24 containing various allegations against the senior functionaries of the CBI, has served three notices under Section 11 of the CVC Act, 2003 on September 11 on the CBI director to produce files and documents before the commission on September 14.
The statement added that “despite repeated assurances and reminders, the Director, CBI failed to furnish the records/files before the Commission”. “The CVC has observed that Director, CBI has not been cooperating in making available records/files sought by the Commission relating to serious allegations.”
“The CVC has also observed that the Director, CBI has been non-cooperative with the Commission, non-compliant with the requirements/directions of the Commission and has created willful obstructions in the functioning of the Commission which is a Constitutional body,” added the government statement.
The government said that CBI Director Verma was removed from his position as an interim measure and will subsist “till the CVC concludes its inquiry into all issues which have given rise to the present extraordinary and unprecedented situation”.
Verma has been replaced by M Nageshwar Rao, a 1986-batch Odisha cadre officer, and Joint Director at CBI will proceed to take over as the chief, according to an order by the Prime Minister-led Appointments Committee.