By removing Alok Verma as CBI Director, PM Modi has shown he's too afraid of probe: Congress

Reacting to the 2:1 majority decision, Congress said that the decision was taken to avoid being probed by the investigative agency under Verma on the Rafale deal.

A selection committee headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Wednesday to decide on the fate of CBI Director Alok Verma, reinstated by a Supreme Court order after he was sent on forced leave by the government over two months ago, officials said. (PTI)

NEW DELHI: On Alok Verma's removal from CBI chief position, Congress on Thursday attacked at PM and said that Narendra Modi is too afraid of probe. On Twitter, reacting to the 2:1 majority on decision Verma's removal, Congress party wrote “by removing Alok Verma 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.” Ajay Maken also said that the former CBI boss was removed because he wanted to probe the Rafale deal.

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 was shunted out as the CBI chief after a marathon meeting of the high-powered selection committee led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The decision was opposed by Leader of Congress in Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge. Earlier, Verma was sent on forced leave by the government in a late-night controversial order on October 23, 2018 in the wake of a feud between him and his deputy Special Director Rakesh Asthana. He had challenged the order in the Supreme Court which had quashed the government order Tuesday. The apex court had set aside Verma's forced leave but restrained him from taking any major policy decision till the CVC probe into corruption charges against him was over. The apex court had said any further decision against Verma, who was scheduled to retire on January 31, would be taken by the high-powered committee which selects and appoints the CBI director. Also Watch: The Supreme Court in the Vineet Narayan judgment had fixed a minimum tenure of two years for the CBI director to give him immunity from any political interference. Later, through the Lokpal Act, the process of selecting the CBI director was handed over to a selection committee.