'None of you deserve a hearing', Supreme Court says over leak of CBI chief Verma's confidential reply

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Tuesday expressed strong displeasure over the leak of CBI director Alok Kumar Verma's confidential reply in the media and adjourned the hearing in his case to November 29.

The response was filed by Verma and submitted to the secretary general in a sealed cover on Monday. After initially adjourning hearing of Alok Verma's reply to the CVC inquiry to November 29, the apex court agreed to hear it at the end of the day's work.

Earlier, a bench comprising Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justices S K Kaul and K M Joseph handed over to senior advocate Fali S Nariman, appearing for Verma, the copy of a report by a news portal, which has published the CBI director's response.

Nariman after going through the media report told the bench that he was "shattered" and "shocked" on Verma's reply being leaked in the media.

CJI Ranjan Gogoi, who was visibly angry and asked all other counsel not to mention urgent hearing cases, told Nariman that the court wants help in what to do in this case.

Nariman after reading the papers said he is also disturbed. The CJI then put away the papers and said "none of you deserve hearing." The senior lawyer said the news portal and its journalists concerned be summoned as the press should be free and responsible.

Verma had contested Centre's decision to divest him of his duties and send him on forced leave following a dispute between him and CBI's number 2 officer Rakesh Asthana. The two top cops had levelled corruption allegations against each other.

The CVC report, to which Verma had filed response on Monday, was categorised into four parts by the SC - complimentary, very complimentary, not-so-complimentary and very uncomplimentary.

The top court had directed the CVC to probe the corruption allegations made by Asthana and submit a report. Pursuant to the top court's order, the CVC's inquiry against Verma was conducted under the supervision of former apex court judge Justice A K Patnaik and the report was filed in the court on November 12 in a sealed envelope.

(With inputs from PTI)