CVC\'s report against CBI chief has some \'very uncomplimentary\' charges: SC

CVC's report against CBI chief has some 'very uncomplimentary' charges: SC

Press Trust of India  |  New Delhi 

The CVC has made some "very uncomplimentary" findings in its probe on allegations against and wanted further investigations into some of the charges which required more time, the said Friday, adding there were also some "very complimentary" conclusions.

"CVC has filed an exhaustive report. The report has been categorised in four parts and is very complimentary on some charges, not so complimentary on some charges and very uncomplimentary on some charges. CVC report says some charges are required to be investigated and they need time," the CJI said and posted the matter for hearing on November 20.

Verma approached the apex court challenging the Centre's decision to divest him of his duties and sending him on leave following his feud with special Rakesh Asthana, who has levelled allegations against him. Asthana has also been divested of his duties and sent on leave.

During the hearing on Friday, the bench made it clear that the confidentiality of CVC's report was necessary "keeping in mind the need to preserve and maintain the sanctity of the institution of the and public confidence in the said institution".

The bench also said that a copy of the report, along with annexure, be also furnished in a sealed cover to the offices of K K Venugopal and Tushar Mehta, who is representing the CVC.

"Needless to say, the report of the CVC directed to be furnished to the office of the for India; to the office of the of and to the learned for the petitioner ...in sealed cover will be treated with utmost confidentiality for the reasons afore-stated," the bench said.

The court clarified that a response to the CVC report has to be filed by Verma only.

"At this stage, we are not inclined to call upon either the or any other party to submit any response/reply to the said report of the CVC and the only response the court is permitting is that of the petitioner ..".

However, the court turned down the fervent request of Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for Asthana, to also give him a copy of the CVC report.

Rohatgi said Asthana has been facing a criminal case for complaining against Verma and demanded the report, saying it was Asthana who had filed a complaint against the to the Cabinet Secretary, which was subsequently sent to the CVC.

"This is not a case of security of the nation. Why should this report be kept in a sealed cover?," Rohatgi said.

To this, the bench initially questioned Asthana's move to lodge a complaint with the saying, "Under what authority in law you had filed a complaint to the ".

When Rohatgi said, "That (complaint) I can file", the bench observed, "Anybody can file a complaint".

Fali S Nariman, appearing for Verma, told the court that the CBI director would file his response to CVC report as soon as possible by November 19 as "the earlier it (issue) is resolved, the better it is".

To this, the bench told Nariman, "Once we will have your (Verma) response, we will take a decision".

The bench told Dushyant Dave, appearing for NGO Common Cause which has filed a separate plea seeking a probe by a special investigation team against CBI officers, that the NGO has not filed a list of policy decisions taken by M Nageswara Rao.

Dave had earlier claimed that despite court's order that Rao would not take policy decisions, the has taken several such decisions.

"We will presume that he (Rao) has not taken any major policy decision because you have not given us list of decisions taken by him," the bench told Dave, adding that Rao has already filed in the court a list of decisions taken by him from October 23 till October 26.

When Dave said he would file the list of decisions taken by Rao, the bench observed that "it will be open for any party to supplement the said list" and the issue would be considered on the next date of hearing.

The bench also dealt with the application filed by and CBI Dy SP A K Bassi, who has been transferred to and said that they would also be considered on November 20.

On November 4, Kharge had moved the top court contending that divesting Verma of his statutory powers and functions is "completely illegal and arbitrary".

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

First Published: Fri, November 16 2018. 17:05 IST