SC to look into CVC report on allegations against CBI director on Monday
Satya Prakash
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, November 11
CBI Director Alok Verma's fate hangs in balance as the Supreme Court is all set to examine on Monday the Central Vigilance Commission's report of inquiry into allegations of corruption against him.
A Bench of Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi, Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice KM Joseph - which had on October 26 asked the CVC to complete its inquiry supervised by former Supreme Court judge AK Patnaik in two weeks - would take up the matter for hearing in court no. 1.
The CVC is looking into allegations made in the August 24 note/letter of the Cabinet Secretary against Verma.
But even before the top court could peruse the CVC's report, a section of the media reported on Sunday that the probe against Verma yielded "nothing substantial".
The top court - which had restrained CBI interim director M Nageswara Rao from taking any policy or major decisions and asked him to perform only routine functions essential to keep the probe agency functional - will also examine all decisions taken by him which have to be placed before it in a sealed cover. The decisions included transfer of officials ordered since October 23.
Before passing any orders, the Bench would hear arguments from Verma; and the Centre, the CVC, Rao and CBI Special Director Rakesh Asthana who were issued notices by the court.
Verma has contended that he was appointed for a two-year term with the approval of a selection panel comprising the Prime Minister, the Leader of Opposition and the CJI.
The government could not have curtailed it, he said citing SC's 1997 Vineet Narain judgment and amendments in the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act under which CBI was set up.
On October 25, NGO Common Cause had moved the Supreme Court demanding a court-monitored probe by an SIT into allegations of corruption against the CBI officials. Verma has also challenged the government's order of asking Rao to take charge as acting CBI chief.
Asthana, who has been divested of his powers as special director and sent on leave, too, has challenged the government's decision.
At the root of the controversy is an intense infighting between Verma and Asthana, who have been at loggerheads for months. After Asthana wrote to the CVC against Verma, the CBI registered a corruption case against its special director who had to rush to the Delhi High Court for protection.
