Benched Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Director Alok Kumar Verma on Monday filed his response to the findings of the CVC’s preliminary probe report on corruption charges against him in a sealed cover in the Supreme Court. Verma’s reply came after the SC told him to do so “as quickly as possible” as the scheduled Tuesday hearing would not be deferred.
Verma, who was asked by the SC to file his response to the Central Vigilance Commission’s (CVC) report in a sealed cover by Monday 1 pm, sought some more time from the SC for filing his reply.
However the Bench, headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and comprising justices SK Kaul and KM Joseph, told Verma’s lawyer Gopal Sankaranarayanan, “We are not shifting the date (of hearing). You file it as quickly as possible as we will have to read it.”
Verma’s reply will deal with the CVC report, which was categorised into four parts by the apex court as “complimentary, very complimentary, not so complimentary, and very uncomplimentary” for the CBI Director.
The SC on November 16 had directed Verma, Attorney General KK Venugopal and Solicitor General Tushar Mehta --- who were also supplied with the confidential report of the CVC --- to maintain secrecy, saying it was needed to ensure people’s faith in the CBI as an institution.
Earlier, the apex court had said the CVC had made some “very uncomplimentary” findings in its probe on corruption allegations against Verma and wanted further investigation into some of the charges which required more time.