CBI shaking: the opposition is crying; government defends decision | India News

NEW DELHI: In an unprecedented move, the government in the early hours of Wednesday sent CBI Director Alok Verma and Special Director Rakesh Asthana on leave in the middle of a permanent conflict. While the government maintained that the officers had been sent on leave in accordance with the recommendations of the Central Vigilance Commission (CAC) and that the decision was necessary for an honest inquiry, the opposition suggested that the conspiracy was broader.

On Tuesday evening, the nominating committee led by the Prime Minister entrusted Mr. Nageswara Rao with the duties of the IWC Director with immediate effect. Rao, an officer of the Odisha Indian Police Force belonging to the Indian Police Force in 1986, was working as co-director of the investigative agency.

Later in the day, Verma went to the Supreme Court and said that the measures taken by the Center and the CVC were "patently illegal" and that such interference "undermined" the law. independence and autonomy of the first institution in charge of the investigation. The Supreme Court agreed to hear on October 26 Verma's petition challenging the government's decision.

Meanwhile, back in the IWC, the investigative agency reorganized the team investigating allegations of corruption against its former special director, Asthana, bringing new faces.

The opposition viewed the government's decision as an attack on the sovereignty of the investigative body.

"The Modi government is pushing the last nail in the IWC's independence." The systematic dismantling and smearing of the IWC is now complete.Once a leading investigative agency, Prime Minister Minister assured the integrity, credibility and reliability of the IWC, said Congress spokesman Randeep S. Surjwala.

"The rest is not a poor quality cover? Let the prime minister answer!" he added.

As the anger surrounding the government's decision grew stronger, the government defended the move, saying it was "protecting the institutional integrity" of the agency. .

"This is an extraordinary situation, and the accused can not be allowed to conduct the investigation against him.A special investigation team will investigate the charges and the two people" s & dquo; "Will be absent" as an interim measure, said Finance Minister Arun Jaitley. journalists.

While the government was busy defending its decision, Congress added a burst of fury to the situation.

The president of the Congress, in a tweet in Hindi, claimed that Verma was gathering documents related to the agreement with Rafale. He was sent "by force" on leave.

Jaitley dismissed the allegations as "hogwash".

"I consider this accusation a junk, and the fact that the opposition parties say we know which agency would do it casts doubt on the process of fairness." They say it is true, but if they made it available to what was happening in the mind of a person who destroys the integrity of the person she is trying to support, "she said. he declares.

The government was quick to blame the clutter at the Verma agency. "Despite repeated assurances and reminders, the CBI Director did not provide the files / files to the Board." The CAC found that the IWC Director was not cooperating to make available the files / files sought by the Board regarding serious allegations, "he said in a statement.

The agency also issued a statement and assured that police officers with recognized expertise would have been tasked with investigating the Asthana corruption case. "We are striving to conduct a prompt, impartial and fair investigation into the Asthana corruption case," said a spokesman for the IWC.

A number of opposition leaders, including Mamata Banerjee of TMC, Sitaram Yechury of CMP, Mayawati of BSP, Arvind Kejriwal, head of AAP and D Raja of CPI, were among the people who attacked the government for the withdrawal of Verma.

"CBI has now become what is called the BBI (Bureau of Investigation of the BJP) – very unfortunate!" Banerjee tweeted.

DMK President MK Stalin has criticized the government for withdrawing Verma, alleging that institutional freedom was threatened by the Modi government.

"Director Alok Verma, who is on leave at a crucial time, seems motivated with #RafaleScam under the scanner.The appointment of a corrupt officer at the head of the interim #CBI is just as debatable", has he tweeted.

Delhi Chief Minister and AAP Chief Kejriwal echoed it.

"What are the reasons for sending the director of the CBI on leave?" Under what law did the Modi government get the power to sue the head of an organization? named inquiry under the Lokpal law? What is the government trying to hide? " he asked on Twitter.

The decision came one day after Asthana had moved the Delhi High Court to seek the annulment of the FIR process filed against him by CBI. The court subsequently ordered that no action be taken against Asthana before the next hearing, scheduled for October 29.

The CBI had filed a FIR against Asthana for allegedly accepting a bribe from a businessman related to the Moin Akhtar Qureshi affair. Asthana led the special investigation team that was investigating the Qureshi case.

At the same time, Asthana also said that IWC director Alok Verma was trying to thwart investigations into important cases.

However, the CBI subsequently issued a statement in which it defended Verma.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Devender Kumar was also arrested by CBI in connection with the case.

(With agency contributions)