Janjivan Bureau / New Delhi : A day before the crucial hearing on CBI Director Alok Verma’s petition challenging the government’s order sending him on leave, NGO Common Cause on Thursday moved the Supreme Court demanding a court-monitored probe by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) into allegations of corruption against CBI officials, including Special Director Rakesh Asthana, who too has been divested of powers and sent on leave.
Verma has also challenged the government’s order asking Joint Director M Nageswar Rao to take charge as acting CBI chief. A Bench of Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi, Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice KM Joseph will take up both the petitions for hearing on Friday.
At the root of the controversy is the intense infighting between Verma and his number two, Asthana.
After Asthana wrote to the Central Vigilance Commissioner against Verma, the CBI registered a corruption case against its Special Director, who had to rush to the Delhi High Court for protection.
The CBI on Thursday clarified that “Verma continues to remain the CBI Director, Asthana the Special Director and Rao is looking after duties of the Director in the interim period till the time CVC looks into allegations and counter-allegations.”
He termed as “false” reports that seven files had been removed.
