'They were fighting like Kilkenny cats': Alok Verma-Rakesh Asthana tussle exposed CBI to ridicule, Centre tells SC

The Centre Wednesday told the Supreme Court that the fight between two top officers of the CBI -- Director Alok Verma and Special Director Rakesh Asthana -- in public exposed the premier probe agency to ridicule.

Attorney General KK Venugopal told a bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi that the fight between the two officers impacted the image of the CBI.

The Centre's main aim was to see that confidence of the public in this premier institution is restored, he said.

"Dispute between CBI Director and Special Director was pulling down integrity and respect of premier institution," he told the bench, also comprising Justices SK Kaul and KM Joseph.

"Two top officers, Alok Kumar Verma and Rakesh Asthana, were fighting against each other and went public which exposed CBI to ridicule," Venugopal told the bench.

He said the fight between them had created an unprecedented and extraordinary situation and the Government of India was watching with "amazement" as to what these two officers were doing.

"They were fighting like Kilkenny cats," Venugopal said, adding that it was absolutely essential for the Centre to step in and act in the tussle between two officers.

He also submitted that the Centre acted within its jurisdiction on complaints made in July and October this year.

"If the government had not done so, only God knows where and how this fight between the two top officers would have ended," Venugopal told the bench.

The Attorney General concluded his arguments and then Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC), started making the submissions.

The Centre had perused the report of the CVC, which on Asthana's complaint against Verma had made some recommendations. After that the two officers were sent on leave.

Later, the apex court had directed the CVC to probe the complaint against Verma. The report was submitted to the court in a sealed cover.

After a brief submission by Mehta, the apex court concluded the day's hearing and posted the matter for further arguments for Thursday.

The apex court on Nov 29 had said it would first consider whether the government has the power to divest the CBI director of his duties under whatever circumstances or whether the selection committee headed by the Prime Minister should have been approached before moving against Verma on corruption allegations against him.

The court had taken this stand after making it clear that for now it was not going into the allegations and counter-allegations involving Verma and CBI's No.2 officer Asthana, both of whom have been stripped of their powers and sent on leave following their bitter feud.

Verma's two-year tenure ends on January 31. He has challenged the Centre's decision.