Decision to send CBI officers on leave taken on CVC recommendation, says Jaitley

Jaitley said that the apex court apparently has strengthened the immunity given to the CBI director in the larger interest of the fair and impartial working of the CBI.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on SC order reinstating CBI director Alok Verma said tat the government's aim was to protect CBI/ Image: ANI

New Delhi: Reacting to the Supreme Court’s verdict which set aside the Centre’s controversial decision of divesting CBI Director Alok Verma of his powers and sending him on leave, Union minister Arun Jaitley said that the government gave the order on the recommendation of the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC). Apparently defending the notification issued by the government on October 23, 2018, Jaitley said that the aim of the government was to protect the CBI. He said that the government would comply with the orders of the top court. In an unprecedented development, the Cabinet's Appointments Committee had divested CBI director Alok Verma and special director Rakesh Asthana "of all powers" after reports of feud emerged between them. The action was described as the first such case in the history of the country’s premier investigation agency. "The government took this decision to protect the integrity of the CBI...Government took the action of sending two senior officers of CBI on leave on CVC's recommendation”, the Finance Minister said while interacting with reporters in Parliament complex after the Supreme Court’s verdict. “This action was taken perfectly bonafide as there were cross-allegations made by both the officers and in accordance with recommendations of CVC. The government had felt that in the larger interest of fair and impartial investigation and credibility of CBI, the two officers must recuse themselves”, he said. Jaitley further said that the court apparently has strengthened the immunity given to the CBI director in the larger interest of the fair and impartial working of the CBI. “At the same time, the court has devised an accountability mechanism. The directions of the court will obviously be complied with," he said. The Supreme Court on Tuesday, reinstated Verma as CBI Director, but restrained him from taking any major policy decision till the CVC probe into corruption charges against him gets over. (inputs from agencies)