CBI vs CBI Updates: SC gives CVC 14 days to probe allegations against Alok Verma; Rahul Gandhi courts arrest

CBI Row: CBI Director Alok Verma moved the Supreme Court challenging the Centre's decision and suggesting that the government may not be in agreement with the course of CBI probe into cases relating to some "high functionaries". In his petition, he contended that the action against him was "patently illegal and unconstitutional" and sought quashing of the order.

Congress President Rahul Gandhi in police stattion. Image tweeted by @rssurjewala

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court reviewed the petition filed by CBI director Alok Kumar Verma challenging the decision of the Centre to divest him of his duties and sending him on leave and said that the investigation against CBI chief Alok Verma should to be completed in 14 days by CVC where retired SC Judge AK Patnaik will monitor the probe. The petition in the apex court was listed for hearing before a bench Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justices S K Kaul and K M Joseph. In between the crucial hearings in the  apex court, Rahul Gandhi-led a massive Congress protest outside CBI HQ demanding reinstatement of ousted CBI Director Alok Verma. Gandhi, an SPG protectee, sat firmly on top of a police barricade to lead the spirited protest even as the police used water cannons and batons to contain the agitators. Congress workers heavily raised "Chowkidaar Chor Hai" to attack PM Narendra Modi under whose directions, the Congress alleges Verma was expelled.  Gandhi, who has alleged that Modi removed Verma to stall Rafale probe, later headed to Lodhi Road Police Station to court arrest along with other senior Congress leaders. Earlier on Wednesday, in an unprecedented shake-up in the CBI's 55-year-history, the Prime Minister-led Appointments Committee gave charge of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Director to Joint Director M Nageshwara Rao while CBI Director Alok Verma, Special Director Rakesh Asthana were sent on leave. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) also transferred the team probing the case against Special Director Rakesh Asthana and a new team headed by Satish Dagar has also been formed by Nageshwar Rao to impartially investigate bribery allegations.

Here are the latest updates:

 

• Congress President Rahul Gandhi took to Twitter to attack the government saying truth cannot be extinguished despite attempts of government.

सरकार लाख कोशिश कर ले, सच को क़ैद नहीं कर पाएगी| पुरे देश में जनता सड़कों पर आ प्रधान मंत्री को असलियत का आईना दिखा रही है| pic.twitter.com/AAE06H0790

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) October 26, 2018

• After leaving Lodhi Colony police station in Delhi, Rahul Gandhi said 'PM can run, he can hide but in the end, truth will be revealed. Removing CBI Director will not help. PM acted against CBI Director; it was an act out of panic', news agency ANI reported.

PM can run, he can hide but in the end, truth will be revealed. Removing #CBI Director will not help. PM acted against CBI Director; it was an act out of panic: Congress President Rahul Gandhi after leaving Lodhi Colony police station in Delhi pic.twitter.com/w5QJfREUMm

— ANI (@ANI) October 26, 2018

Congress President Rahul Gandhi and other leaders of the Congress Party detained during the protests at the CBI Headquarters in Delhi: Congress pic.twitter.com/f4pt4XeHdY

— ANI (@ANI) October 26, 2018

• Congress President Rahul Gandhi calls off protests near #CBI headquarters in Delhi. Rahul Gandhi proceeds towards Lodhi Road Police Station to court arrest. Delhi Police says "no one arrested so far."

Congress President Rahul Gandhi inside a Delhi Police van.

• Congress workers detained by police during protests near CBI headquarters in Delhi.

#Visuals of Congress workers being detained by police during protests near #CBI headquarters in Delhi. pic.twitter.com/17TpXm6rte

— ANI (@ANI) October 26, 2018

• Rahul reaches CBI HQ, climbs and sits on police barricading. He claims that the Director of the country’s biggest investigative agency Alok Verma has been “sacked” to hinder investigation on Rafale.
• Congress President Rahul Gandhi leads protest march from Dyal Singh College to CBI HQ against the removal of CBI Chief Alok Verma.
• M Nageswar Rao shall not take any major policy decisions but will remain as interim CBI chief: SC
• SC asks Centre to give in sealed cover the decisions taken till date by interim Director Rao after being assigned the interim charge as CBI Director.
• The investigation against CBI chief Alok Verma, accused of corruption by his deputy, to be completed in 14 days by CVC says SC. Retired SC Judge AK Patnaik will monitor the probe. Interim CBI Director Nageshwar Rao asked by SC to provide details of decisions taken on October 23.
• Nariman says CBI Director was appointed with approval of selection panel having PM, Leader of Opposition and CJI.
• News agency ANI reports, Fali Nariman who is representing CBI Chief Alok Verma in Supreme Court, submits, "order passed by the CVC and Union Government was without any authority under the law."
• Senior advocate F S Nariman opens arguments on behalf of CBI chief.
• Supreme Court starts crucial hearing on CBI Chief Alok Verma’s plea.
• After CBI director Alok Kumar Verma, CBI Special Director Rakesh Asthana moves to Supreme Court against the Centre's leave order.
• The road going towards Central Bureau of Investigation HQ, Delhi blocked ahead of Rahul Gandhi's protest march.
• Delhi Police planning to stop Rahul Gandhi before CBI Headquarters.
• INC Chief Rahul Gandhi tweets- Join us today at 11 AM as we march from Dayal Singh College on Lodhi Road to the CBI HQ, to protest the PM’s disgraceful & unconstitutional attempt to block an investigation into the Rafale scam by removing the CBI Chief. Similar protests are being held today, across India.

Join us today at 11 AM as we march from Dayal Singh College on Lodhi Road to the CBI HQ, to protest the PM’s disgraceful & unconstitutional attempt to block an investigation into the Rafale scam by removing the CBI Chief. Similar protests are being held today, across India.

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) October 26, 2018

• In Supreme Court, Fali Sam Nariman will be present on behalf of CBI Cheif Alok Verma. Former Attorney General and senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi will be representing CBI Special Director Rakesh Asthana. KK Venugopal will represent DOPT, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta will represent CVC.
• Supreme Court Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi, Justices S K Kaul and K M Joseph will hear the case.
• Trinamool Congress to join the Congress party protest led by Rahul Gandhi at Central Bureau of Investigation headquarters against the removal of CBI Director Alok Verma.
• Security tightened and many police personnel deployed outside CBI headquarters in Delhi.
• Congress President Rahul Gandhi to protest at CBI HQ at 11:30 am

Alok Verma had moved to the apex court challenging the Centre's decision and suggesting that the government may not be in agreement with the course of CBI probe into cases relating to some "high functionaries". In his petition, he contended that the action against him was "patently illegal and unconstitutional" and sought quashing of the order. "Over the recent past, although all functionaries within the CBI from the investigating officer and the superintending officers up to the Joint Director and the Director have agreed on a certain course of action, the Special Director has been of a different view," the plea said. Through a tweet, Congress president Rahul Gandhi also said that he will lead the party as it stages protests outside CBI HQ in Delhi, at 11 AM demanding reinstatement of CBI director Alok Verma.

Tomorrow, outside CBI offices nationwide, the Congress party will protest the PM’s disgraceful attempt to prevent an investigation into the Rafale scam, by removing the CBI Chief.

I will lead the protests outside CBI HQ in Delhi, at 11 AM. #CBIRafaleGate — Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) October 25, 2018

The war between Verma and Asthana had escalated after Asthana had written to the CVC in August levelling allegations of misconduct and corruption in the probe into meat exporter Moin Qureshi case while the CBI registered a case on Sunday against Asthana accusing him of accepting a bribe to settle Qureshi's case. On Thursday, the CBI clarified that Alok Verma and Rakesh Asthana continue to be the director and special director of the Central Bureau of Investigation respectively. PTI quoted CBI spokesperson Abhishek Dayal as saying "Alok Verma and Rakesh Asthana, who have been divested of their powers, continue to be the director and special director of the agency respectively,"

What is CBI Vs CBI Feud?

An FIR was filed by the CBI against special director Rakesh Asthana for allegedly accepting a bribe from a businessman, who was related to controversial meat exporter Moin Akhtar Qureshi case. Asthana was heading the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing Qureshi's case. The Delhi High Court directed the CBI to maintain status quo on the criminal proceedings initiated against the agency's Special Director Rakesh Asthana and a trial court sent an arrested mid-level officer Deputy Superintendent of Police Devender Kumar facing bribery charges to seven-day remand, as the unprecedented internecine battle between the two top officers of the CBI entered the judicial arena. During the court hearing, the CBI also submitted that charges of extortion and forgery were added against Asthana and Devender Singh, a Deputy Superintendent police of CBI who was arrested on Monday by the agency for allegedly taking bribe and falsification of records. The high-voltage drama involving Asthana and his boss Alok Verma, the CBI Director, also provided more fodder to the Congress and other opposition parties to target the Centre which was accused of "destroying the country's institutions".