CBI vs CBI LIVE: Blow for Rakesh Asthana as HC Refuses to Quash FIR; Alok Verma Turns Down New Role

No relief for Rakesh Asthana as the Delhi High Court Dismisses CBI #2' s plea and says that the FIR against Asthana stands. 

Alok Verma has refused to take charge as the DG of Fire Services after being ousted as the CBI Director by PM Modi-led high committee on Thursday, barely 48 hours after he was reinstated by the Supreme Court. The committee said he "had not acted with the integrity expected of him". Refusing to take any new assignment, Verma now writes to the DoPT of Secretary. 

All transfers and reshuffles initiated by former CBI chief Alok Verma have been nullified by interim chief Nageshwar Rao. Alok Verma, on his return to work three months after being sent on a forced leave by the government in a midnight swoop, took a series of controversial decisions and he cancelled the transfers of 10 officers and transferred five others. Those who had been transferred included DIG Tarun Gabha and joint director V Murugesan. While Gabha was given additional charge of the team that was probing the case against special CBI director Rakesh Asthana, Murugesan was to supervise the team.Other officers who had been transferred are joint director Ajay Bhatnagar, additional director AK Sharma and DIG MK Sinha. These officers were investigating Asthana at the time the government sent Verma on leave. Verma had also cancelled the transfer of officers considered to be his loyalists.

The ousted agency director, who was sent on leave by the government amid a bitter power tussle with deputy Rakesh Asthana, now finds himself at the centre of a political war which may echo in upcoming general elections.

New Delhi: A high-powered committee headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday removed Alok Verma as the CBI director in a 2:1 decision.

Nageshwar Rao Takes Charge as Director of CBI | M. Nageshwar Rao, Additional Director, CBI has assumed the charge of the office of Director, CBI after Alok Verma was transferred yesterday as DG Fire Services, Home Guards and Civil Defence. A high-powered committee headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday in a 2:1 decision removed Alok Verma as CBI director, making him possibly the first chief in the history of the agency to face such action. Just this week, Verma was reinstated by a Supreme Court order after he was sent on forced leave by the government. 

M. Nageshwar Rao, Additional Director, CBI has assumed the charge of the office of Director, CBI after Alok Verma was transferred yesterday as DG Fire Services, Home Guards and Civil Defence. pic.twitter.com/byJxaH5Ywj

— ANI (@ANI) January 11, 2019

Former AG Mukul Rohatgi says that he believes that Verma's statements about the verdict are not "in good taste." "If PM& a senior SC judge,after seeing CVC report, gave a decision, then its not fair for Verma to say the decision is bad.Govt should have settled this earlier," he says. 

Former AG Mukul Rohatgi:Don't think Alok Verma's statements are in good taste. If PM& a senior SC judge,after seeing CVC report, gave a decision, then its not fair for Verma to say the decision is bad.Govt should have settled this earlier. It has spoilt the name of the agency&CBI pic.twitter.com/OvdIolo4k0

— ANI (@ANI) January 11, 2019

Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) DIG MK Sinha in his plea to the CBI Director conveyed that in the interest of the investigation he may not be handed over the AC-III unit which is probing Asthana, amidst the ongoing feud between Verma and Asthana which has seen recent developments

According to officials, there were eight charges against Verma in the CVC report presented before the panel which included alleged attempts to induct tainted officers, compromising probe in the case related to controversial meat exporter Moin Qureshi, IRCTC scam among others.

Special Director Rakesh Asthana, with whom Verma had a public feud, had given a complaint against him to the Cabinet Secretary in August which was referred to the CVC.

The CVC report spoke about the controversial meat exporter Moin Qureshi's case and claimed that the CBI team looking into it wanted to make Hyderabad-based businessman Sathish Babu Sana an accused but Verma never gave clearance.

The probe in this case was led by Asthana who was later booked by the CBI on the basis of a magisterial statement recorded by Sana who had claimed that two businessman brothers had sought bribe of Rs 5 crore from him to get relief to him in a case against him using their contacts with the special director. ​

Former CBI Director AP Singh Hints at 'Groupism' in CBI | Hinting at an underlying ‘groupism’ within the investigating agency, A P Singh, former CBI director said the institution has suffered a big blow to its image. “The entire spat has definitely brought down the integrity of CBI. More than that, there is a perception that there is groupism going on in the CBI. Two groups are fighting against each other, making allegations against each other,” he said. “The new chief will also have to sort out this image. There are enough competent officers who have worked in the CBI and whoever is chosen will do a great job,” added the ex-CBI chief. Verma is possibly the first chief in the history of the agency to face such action. His service tenure ends on January 31 and he has now been given the charge of DG Fire Services, Civil Defence and Home Guards.

'Fear is Now Rampaging Through Modi's Mind': Rahul Gandhi | Congress president Rahul Gandhi blamed the removal of CBI chief on the "fear" coursing through PM Modi's mind. The Congress claimed that Verma was removed without being given a chance to present his case, alleging that it showed that PM Modi was too afraid of an investigation, an apparent reference to its demand of a probe into the Rafale deal. "Fear is now rampaging through Mr Modi’s mind. He can’t sleep. He stole 30,000Cr from the IAF and gave it to Anil Ambani. Sacking the CBI Chief #AlokVerma twice in a row, clearly shows that he is now a prisoner of his own lies," tweeted Rahul.

Fear is now rampaging through Mr Modi’s mind. He can’t sleep. He stole 30,000Cr from the IAF and gave it to Anil Ambani. Sacking the CBI Chief #AlokVerma twice in a row, clearly shows that he is now a prisoner of his own lies.

Satyamev Jayate.

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) January 10, 2019

By removing #AlokVerma from his position without giving him the chance to present his case, PM Modi has shown once again that he's too afraid of an investigation, either by an independent CBI director or by Parliament via JPC.

— Congress (@INCIndia) January 10, 2019

Alok Verma, whose service tenure ends on January 31, has now been given the charge of DG Fire Services, Civil Defence and Home Guards.

Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge's Dissent Note | Mallikarjun Kharge, the dissenting member of the panel, questioned how Verma could be removed without a hearing and argued that he should be restored to "ensure independence and neutrality of CBI". Contending that the CVC report on which the committee's judgment was based,  lacked "substantial findings" against  Verma. Kharge's note further says that out of the 10 allegations against  Verma, only three were substantiated. Meanwhile the main allegation that Verma took Rs. 2 crore from a businessman being investigated by the CBI has not been substantiated, it adds. 

'False, Unsubstantiated, Frivolous Allegations': Verma | Breaking his silence over the issue, Verma, in a statement late on Thursday night, said the CBI being a prime investigating agency dealing in corruption in high public places is an institution whose independence should be preserved and protected. "It must function without external influences. I have tried to uphold the integrity of the institution while attempts were being made to destroy it. The same can be seen from the orders of the central government and the CVC dated October 23, 2018, which were without jurisdiction and were set aside," he said Verma termed it "sad" that he was transferred to another post pursuant to the orders of the committee on the basis of "false, unsubstantiated and frivolous allegations made by only one person, who was inimical to him".

PM Modi Led Committee Sacks Alok Verma | A high-powered committee headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday removed Alok Verma as the CBI director in a 2:1 decision. PM Modi and Justice AK Sikri -- representing Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi who had recused himself from the panel -- favoured Mr Verma's removal. Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge, representing the opposition, put up a dissenting note. Reacting to his removal from the CBI, Mr Verma said that he was transferred on the basis of false, unsubstantiated and frivolous allegations made by only one person, who was trying to harm him.

Delhi HC to Pronounce Verdict on Rakesh Asthana Plea | The Delhi High Court today, will announce its verdict on former CBI special director Rakesh Asthana’s plea to quash the FIR against him on charges of bribery. The charges were first taken up by former CBI director Alok Verma who accused Asthana of accepting bribes. Asthana, in return, charged Verma with similar acts of corruption following which the apex court ordered a Central Vigilance Commission inquiry. The two CBI officers were then sent on a forced leave by the government. Alok Verma was removed as the chief of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Thursday evening by a committee led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, barely 48 hours after he was reinstated by the Supreme Court. The committee said he "had not acted with the integrity expected of him".