CBI Vs CBI Feud: Who Said What On Mass Transfers At Central Bureau Of Investigation

The government's Appointments Committee of the Cabinet led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as an interim measure, gave charge of the CBI to Joint Director M Nageswar Rao, an Odisha-cadre officer.

CBI Director Alok Verma and Special Director Rakesh Asthana have been "divested of all powers" amid an ongoing spat between them/ AFP Image

NEW DELHI: Opposition parties slammed the government after mass transfers in the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Wednesday where the prime minister-led Appointments Committee gave charge of the Director to Joint Director M Nageshwara Rao and CBI Director Alok Verma, Spl Director Rakesh Asthana were sent on leave. CBI DSP AK Bassi along with others officers who were probing the case against Rakesh Asthana was also transferred.

Here is who said what on mass transfers at Central Bureau of Investigation -

• Aam Aadmi Party: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) asked the reasons for sending the CBI director on leave. Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal tweeted "Is there a co-relation between Rafale deal and removal of Alok Verma? Was Alok Verma about to start investigations into Rafale, which cud become problem for Modi ji?"

• Congress: Randeep Surjewala asked if Verma was "sacked" for his keenness to probe the "layers of corruption" in the Rafale scam and sought an answer from Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He also tweeted “Scared of the Rafale Scam probe, Modi ji is killing India’s premier investigation agency. Officers are being removed in hordes and fascism prevails! Can’t save the sinking ‘Sultanate’ by it! Modiji, why are you so scared of the Rafale probe?”

• Trinamool Congress: Mamata Banerjee‏ accused that CBI has become BJP Bureau of Investigation. She tweeted “CBI has now become so-called BBI ( BJP Bureau of Investigation ) - very unfortunate!”

• CPI-M: Sitaram Yechury of CPI-M said “We don't know if CBI was investigating other issues like Rafale scam. If that was the case, it was ordered to protect the govt, PM & concerned officers. Why was the DIG investigating the charges against Asthana has been sent to 'Kala Pani' in Andaman?” He accused that the Modi govt & the Prime Minister have conducted a political coup against the CBI and that the main objective appears to be to protect the chosen officers of the Prime Minister posted at CBI.

• JDU: Pavan Varma of JDU said that the struggle which is going on the and open fight which is going on in the CBI between its number 1 and number 2 officers was a worst unedifying spectacle. It did not do any credit to the credibility of the agency itself which is already under a question mark. Therefore, until these allegations and counter allegations are sorted out I think it is the best move unless there is a motivational aspect which we are not aware

• Prashant Bhushan: Prashant Bhushan said “unfortunately today the Govt. in order to protect Mr Rakesh Asthana who was brought in as a special director of the CBI they have removed the present director Alok Verma.       Because the present director Alok Verma was investigating several serious cases of corruption against Rakesh Asthana. Alok Verma initially pointed out that he should not be appointed as the special director of the CBI. CBI itself investigated several cases of corruption against him.” He further added that there are total 6 cases which are registered and investigated by the CBI against Rakesh Asthana. In order to prevent Rafale Deal from further investigation they are doing all this

What is CBI Vs CBI Feud? Earlier in the week, 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 Tuesday 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".