In a late-night order, the government on Wednesday divested CBI chief Alok Verma of his charge and Joint Director M. Nageshwar Rao was asked to take charge as interim chief.
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) took the decision past midnight as war between Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) chief Verma and Special Director Rakesh Asthana escalated over bribery allegations hurled at each other.
"The ACC has approved that during the period of the subsistence of the aforesaid interim measure, cited in reference above, M. Nageshwar Rao, IPS, presently working as Joint Director, CBI, shall look after duties and functions of Director CBI and shall take over the duties and functions with immediate effect," the official statement said.
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The decision came after Asthana was divested of all supervisory charges on Tuesday.
Below are the LIVE UPDATES:
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Alok Verma Did Not Cooperate With CVC: Govt Statement
Centre issues a statement on the CBI feud, says ousted Director Alok Verma was not cooperating with the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC).
"Despite repeated assurances and reminders, the Director, CBI, failed to furnish the records/files before the commission. The CVC has observed that Director, CBI, has not been cooperating in making available records/files sought by the commission relating to serious allegations," the statement reads.
CBI director removed by 'chowkidar' because agency was raising questions on Rafale deal, says Congress president Rahul Gandhi
CVC being misused by government, has no power to interfere in appointments, alleges Congress
CBI Director, Special Director Will 'Sit Out': Jaitley
CBI director, special director will 'sit out' as interim measure while SIT will probe charges against them, says Finance Minister Arun Jaitley.
To maintain the institutional integrity of CBI and in the interest of fairness, purely as an interim measure,the officers will sit out by going on leave. An SIT not functioning under either of these officers will investigate. This is in accordance with highest standards of fairness, says Jaitley
CBI Integrity is Essential: Arun Jaitley
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley says it is important for both the CVC and government of India that the integrity of India's investigation process is maintained.
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Independent SIT will investigate the charges, says Jaitley.
New Team To Probe Charges Against Asthana
CBI DIG Tarun Gauba, SP Satish Dagar and Joint Director V Murugesan will probe charges against CBI Special Director Rakesh Asthana.
Sitaram Yechury Targets BJP
To ensure that the CBI is not a “caged parrot”, Supreme Court had granted protection to the Chief from govt’s whims and fancies by giving him a two-year tenure. What is Modi govt trying to hide by its panic move?, Yechury tweeted.
Other transfers/postings
CBI DIG Manish Kumar Sinha, DIG Taurn Gauba, DIG Jasbir Singh, DIG Anish Prasad, DIG KR Chaurasia, HoB Ram Gopal and SP Satish Dagar have been transferred. They were probing the case against Rakesh Asthana, reports news agency ANI.
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CBI's JD (P)Arun Kumar Sharma, A Sai Manohar, HoZ V Murugesan and DIG Amit Kumar have been transferred/posted.
Alok Verma moves Supreme Court
CBI Director Alok Verma moved the Supreme Court, challenging Centre's order asking him to proceed on leave. SC will hear his plea on Friday.
Opposition attacks BJP
The opposition attacked the Narendra Modi-led BJP government over the "removal" of Verma.
"Modi government buries the last nail into the independence of CBI. Systematic dismantling and denigrating of CBI is now complete. Once a premier investigating agency, PM ensures that CBI's integrity, credibility and reliability is buried and dead.
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"PM Modi seeks to achieve surreptitiously and clandestinely what he can't do directly to sack the CBI Director. Habitual and perpetual misuse of CBI by Modi government and BJP to tamper fair investigation of serious criminal cases is the reason for this unfathomable mess," Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said in a series of tweets.
(With inputs from agencies)
