CBI chief Alok Verma sacked by PM-led Committee; appointed as DG fire services

The Supreme Court reinstated Verma as the agency chief on Tuesday, setting aside the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) and the Centre's decision to divest him of his powers to function as its head but with a caveat that he will not take any policy decision till a high-level committee goes into the issue afresh. While reinstating Verma, the top court also junked the Centre's order appointing Rao as the interim Director.

Central Bureau of Investigation Chief Alok Verma. Photo: PTI

New Delhi: A high-powered panel led by PM Narendra Modi decided to sack Alok Verma as CBI Director, said reports on Thursday evening. Sacked CBI chief Alok Verma has now been appointed the Director General of Fire Services while CBI Additional Director, M. Nageshwar Rao be looking after the duties of the CBI Director till the appointment of a new Director. The select committee had met today to decide fate of Alok Verma. This was the second meeting in two days and lasted for more than two hours. The other members of the committee were Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge and Justice A K Sikri, who was nominated by Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi to represent Verma. Sources say Kharge had objected to the decision of  removing Verma citing his impending retirement. Verma, a 1979-batch AGMUT cadre IPS officer, has been removed from the high-profile post on the charges of corruption and dereliction of duty making him the first chief in the history of the agency to face such action, officials said news agency PTI. He is likely to be moved to the National Human Rights Commission, they said. Decision on There were eight counts of charges against him in the CVC report presented before the Committee. Congress chief Rahul Gandhi has been maintaining that Verma is facing the music by the Modi government as he was in the process of initiating an inquiry into the controversial Rafale deal. Gandhi also alleged that in the tussle between Verma and Rakesh Asthana, the latter had the aegis of the government for being the "blue-eyed boy"of PM Modi. Congress condemned the removal of Alok verma as CBI chief saying he wasn't given an opportunity to present his case. "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," the party said on Twitter. Hours before his removal, Verma had appointed 2006 batch IPS officer Mohit Gupta as probe officer in Rakesh Asthana's corruption case. The CBI had registered a case against Asthana for alleged involvement in corruption. After being reinstated as CBI Director, Verma had continued with transfers of officers shifting five more on Thursday including two Joint Directors, one Assistant Director and two Deputy Inspector Generals (DIG).Those transferred included Joint Directors Ajay Bhatnagar and V. Murugesan, DIGs M.K. Sinha and Tarun Gauba and Assistant Director A.K. Sharma. "Bhatnagar has been given additional chare of training in spite of his current responsibility of MDMA and NE departments while Murugesan, who is holding charge of AC 2, will also supervise AC 3. Additional Director Sharma will supervise AC 1 division. Sinha has been given charge of AC 1 division along with the responsibility of BS&FC unit while Gauba, who is in Anti Corruption Branch (ACB) Chandigarh, has been given additional charge of AC 3. Murugesan and Gauba are to supervise the probe against Special Director Rakesh Asthana instead of A.K. Sharma and M.K. Sinha," said sources of IANS in the agency. Verma had been granted limited powers but hours after resuming office, he revoked most transfer orders issued by agency's interim chief M. Nageswara Rao. The Supreme Court reinstated Verma as the agency chief on Tuesday, setting aside the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) and the Centre's decision to divest him of his powers to function as its head but with a caveat that he will not take any policy decision till a high-level committee goes into the issue afresh. While reinstating Verma, the top court also junked the Centre's order appointing Rao as the interim Director. Congress President Rahul Gandhi has attacked the government ahead of the crucial meeting and said Modi is in a "tearing hurry" to "sack" CBI chief Alok Verma because of the Rafale deal. (With inputs from Agencies)