CBI shake-up may hit extradition pleas

Vibha Sharma

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, October 25

While the Modi government is projecting the shake-up in the CBI as the “clean up” of the premier investigating agency in its “fight against corruption”, there seem to be worries over its impact in international courts where India is seeking extradition of economic fugitives, including Mehul Choksi, Nirav Modi and Vijay Malaya.

There are speculations that lawyers could use the government’s action against CBI Director Alok Verma and Special Director Rakesh Asthana in response to charges of corruption against each other as a proof of “state of affairs in the agency” to make cases of these economic offenders stronger.

Political observers believe the prevailing atmosphere of intrigue and uncertainty in India’s top agencies like the CBI, RAW and ED may lead to various fallouts, such as denting the carefully crafted image of PM Modi and exposing chinks within the BJP.

Action against Verma has already ignited a massive political controversy with Opposition refusing to buy Finance Minister Arun Jaitley explanation that the government stepped in only to ensure institutional integrity of the CBI and save it from becoming an object of mockery.

Some within the BJP also think that the action against Verma was unwarranted and should be rolled back. Senior leader Subramanian Swamy today urged PM Modi to reconsider his action against the “upright officer” Verma.