Amid the pestering feud between sacked CBI Director Alok Verma and his deputy Rakesh Asthana during the last few months, it has now emerged that Verma challenged the authority of the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) and went ahead to book Asthana despite express recommendation against the move by the anti-corruption watchdog.
Top CBI sources said the CVC had through a note dated October 15 advised Verma not to file an FIR against Asthana. But in utter defiance of the CVC’s directive, Verma decided to file an FIR based on a complaint from accused in the Moin Qureshi case, Satish Sana on the same day.
Besides, the CBI Director Alok Verma also defied the CVC’s directive to submit the files of the cases in which Asthana had alleged bribery on the part of his boss who also meddled in the probes being supervised by the Special Director. Asthana had in a complaint on August 24 to the Cabinet Secretary, alleged graft and meddling by Verma in the cases handled by the former. The Cabinet Secretary had forwarded the complaint to the CVC that initiated an enquiry into the allegations.
Sources also said, Verma had put as many as 17 journalists on surveillance and their phones were being tapped unauthorisedly and had also sent a team of about six officials to arrest Asthana but could not succeed as he was not available at his residence and was present in the High Court for quashing of the FIR against him. The CBI had arrested Deputy SP Devendra Kumar a day before.
The Government termed the defiance of Verma as “extraordinary and unprecedented” to divest him of all his responsibility as the CBI boss. The Government also divested Asthana of his powers.
The CBI headquarters was abuzz with activity till late in the night on Tuesday. At about 10 PM, teams of about 15-16 officers entered the compound in Innova and Ertiga vehicles. A white sedan followed with M Nageswar Rao, who was given charge of duties and functions of CBI director.
In an unprecedented takeover of charge as Director of CBI, Rao went straight to his office and took charge of the position around 11.30 pm as rest of the CBI staff was clueless about the changes taking place in the agency. Verma had left the building earlier around 7.30 pm which is the normal routine. During the day, Verma had visited his North Block office.
On Tuesday evening, at Satarkata Bhavan, the headquarters of the CVC held a crucial meeting to decide the fate of two feuding officers of the CBI. In an unanimous decision, the CVC recommended divesting all the powers of Verma and Asthana and sent the recommendation to the Government around 8.30 pm.
On the basis of the recommendation, the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet handed over the charge of CBI Director to Joint Director Rao as “interim measure” for conduct of impartial enquiries against the two officers.