Alok Verma at the Home Ministry last month (Express Photo/Tashi Tobgyal)
There was no respite for CBI Director Alok Verma Friday as the Supreme Court pointed out that the report of the Chief Vigilance Commissioner (CVC), which inquired into complaints against him, underlined the need for further probe into some of the charges.
A bench headed by Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi, which perused the report of the CVC, said its contents “can be categorised in four — very complimentary on some charges, not complimentary on some charges, very uncomplimentary on some charges and some charges require further investigation”.
CJI Gogoi said Justice A K Patnaik, who is monitoring the CVC’s probe, had also filed a “note” in the matter. Read this story in Malayalam
The bench, which also comprised Justices S K Kaul and K M Joseph, directed that Verma be given a copy of the report in a sealed cover so that he can file a reply to it. Senior Counsel Fali Nariman represented the CBI Director. The reply has to be filed by 1 pm on November 19. The court will take up the matter again on November 20.
The bench also directed that the Attorney General K K Venugopal and Solicitor General Tushar Mehta be given copies of the report. It directed Verma, the AG and SG to maintain confidentiality of the report “keeping in mind the need to preserve and maintain sanctity and public confidence in the said institution (CBI)”.
Verma has challenged an October 23 order by which he was divested of his charge following differences with Special Director Rakesh Asthana. The government had sent Ashthana on leave as well.
Asthana too has approached the apex court challenging the action against him.
Asthana’s counsel requested that he too be given a copy of the report, but the court turned this down.
Meanwhile, the CJI pointed out that interim CBI Director M Nageshwar Rao, who was directed to file an affidavit stating all decisions taken by him from date of appointment, has filed his reply. The court deferred any decision on the same and allowed parties to supplement if they had any further details.
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