CBI Vs CBI: Alok Verma may move to court

CBI Director Alok Verma has been sent on compulsory wait against which he may move to court today.

The Central Government on Wednesday appointed Joint Director M Nageshwar Rao as the interim Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) director with immediate effect. He was working as the joint director in the CBI. Rao will look after all the functions and duties of the CBI director.

The order stated, "The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved that during the period of the subsistence of the aforesaid interim measure, cited in reference above, Shri M Nageshwar Rao, IPS, presently working as Joint Director, CBI shall look after duties and functions of Director CBI and shall take over duties and functions with immediate effect."

Meanwhile, CBI Director Alok Verma filed a petition which now has been accepted by the Supreme Court. The court is likely to hear it on October 26. Gopal Sankaranarayanan, the lawyer appearing for Alok Verma, told the Supreme Court that the central government in the morning asked Verma and Special Director Rakesh Asthana to go on leave compromising the investigation into many sensitive cases.

The decision by the Modi government to send Verma and Asthana on leave came amid the internal squabble in the CBI. Earlier in the mornig, a raid was conducted at CBI headquarters. The 10th and 11th floors where CBI director Alok Verma and Special Director Rakesh Asthana sit were seized. CBI building has been sealed today and neither the staff nor the outsiders are being allowed to enter the building.