CBI vs CBI: All files at CVC, says agency

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) said it has shared all files pertaining to allegations against director Alok Kumar Verma with the CVC, which is conducting a probe against him. The CVC probe is being monitored by retired Supreme Court judge AK Pattnaik, and it has sought all files related to cases of corruption, in which special director Rakesh Asthana had alleged that Verma was unduly favouring the accused.

Verma and Asthana were divested of their roles as director and special director respectively, following an ugly spat. Terming Verma's non-cooperation in stalling the CVC's probe against himself by not sharing these files as "unprecedented", the CVC passed the order to divest him of his power. CVC is the superintending authority of the CBI in cases related to the PC Act.

"The government, having carefully examined and evaluated the material made available to it, and being satisfied that an extraordinary and unprecedented situation has arisen which demands that the Centre exercise its powers under Section 4(2) of the DPSE Act. The government has evaluated the material before it and in the interest of equality, fair play and principles of natural justice, decided to divest Alok Kumar Verma, director, CBI and Rakesh Asthana, special director, CBI of their functions, power, duty and supervisory role in any manner as director and special director of CBI respectively," an order issued on the midnight of October 23 said.

As an interim measure, the government had also appointed CBI joint director M Nageshwar Rao in Verma's place.