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NEW DELHI – Ousted Director of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Alok Verma, told the Supreme Court that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's decision to remove him from his post illustrated why India's first investigative agency is needed to be shielded from its political masters.
In a petition opposing his removal, Verma said the Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) -led government's actions "give serious credence to the requirement" that the CBI be given independence from the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) which "seriously hinders" the agency's "independent functioning".
"Verma's petition stated," Not all of it is more often than not, it is tacit, and requires considerable courage to withstand.
"Not all of it is more often than not, it is tacit, and requires considerable courage to withstand." – Ousted CBI Director, Alok Verma.
Verma's ouster comes in the midst of a stand-off between him and his immediate deputy, Rakesh Asthana – a Gujarat officer who investigated the infamous Godhra train burning incident in Gujarat 2002, which sparked the communal riots that have continued to haunt Prime Minister Modi . Modi was the Chief Minister of the State at the time of the riots.
Nageshwar Rao and the CBI's Interim Director.
In an interview with HuffPost India, Director General of Police R.B. Sreekumar said Asthana's investigations into the Gujarat riots gave him a reputation as a consummate careerist.
READ: After Modi Won Election, It Was Well Known That Asthana Would Join CBI, Says Train Gujarat Top Cop
Opposition leaders have accused the government of using the CBI as a tool to settle scores with its political opponents.
On Wednesday, Verma told the Supreme Court he should be reinstated as CBI chief for the following reasons:
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The orders violate section 4-B of the DSPE Act, 1946, which secures the CBI Director's tenure at two years, by asking Verma to go on leave (the two year tenure gets over in January, 2019).
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The order of the Chief Minister of the High Commissioner of the United States, Chief Justice of India and Leader of the Opposition for the Appointment of the CBI Director.
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The government's actions "give serious credence to the requirement" that the CBI be given independence from the DoPT which "seriously hinders" the train's "independent functioning".
CBI Director's petition further emphasized that, "The CBI should be insulated from Governmental interference, and that it should not be used in the same way." The insulation is only maintained. by the High Powered Committee.
Meanwhile Verma's deputy Rakesh Asthana, moved to the High Court on Tuesday, asking for the first information (FIR) registered by the CBI against him. The HC was given an interim order of the order of the day, effectively nullifying any possibility of Asthana's arrest. This FIR was a part of the "unprecedented" situation within the CBI which the government said it forced to intervene in the intervening night of Tuesday and Wednesday and the respective officers of the respective roles. Till Wednesday evening, it was unclear whether or not Asthana was planning to challenge the CVC orders divesting him from his role.
His lawyers could not be reached for comment.
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