M Nageshwar Rao had signed off on the transfer of 10 officers on Alok Verma's team.
Highlights
- Alok Verma returned to office after nearly three months of forced leave
- M Nageshwar Rao had signed off on transfer of 10 officers
- Committee comprising PM to meet today and give status report in a week
As he returned to office for the first time in nearly three months, CBI chief Alok Verma on Wednesday cancelled most of the transfers ordered by M Nageshwar Rao, who was posted as interim chief in his absence.
Mr Rao had signed off on the transfer of 10 officers on Alok Verma's team, including those probing a corruption case against the agency's No. 2 Rakesh Asthana like AK Bassi, MK Sinha and AK Sharma.
Alok Verma was on Tuesday reinstated as CBI boss by the Supreme Court, which scrapped an October government order divesting him of his powers and sending him on leave.
While restoring him, the Supreme Court said Mr Verma cannot take any major policy decisions until a high-powered select committee comprising the Prime Minister, the Leader of Opposition and the Chief Justice of India meet and decide on his status. The committee, which met today and will meet again on Thursday, has to give its report within a week.
Sources say Mr Verma can still file First Information Report (FIRs) and sign off on transfers; they argue that interim chief Nageshwara Rao also discharged these functions after being ordered by the top court to steer clear of major policy decisions.
Alok Verma had challenged the government's October 23 order arguing that the CBI chief has a fixed two-year term and can be removed only by the high-powered committee.
Mr Verma's term ends on January 31.
The top court's ruling was perceived as a huge setback for the BJP-led government, which has been accused by the opposition of manipulating the CBI and misusing it to target rivals.
AK Bassi, who was probing Rakesh Asthana, was transferred to Port Blair
Mr Verma and his deputy Rakesh Asthana were sent on leave in October as they swapped charges and accused each other of corruption in a case being investigated by the agency.
Mr Asthana remains on forced leave.
The government had justified its move in court saying it had no option but to send both officers on leave to protect CBI's integrity and image, since they were fighting like "Kilkenny cats". The Central Vigilance Commission, which had recommended sending away the CBI boss, said "extraordinary situations need extraordinary remedies."
The Supreme Court had also asked Mr Verma to respond to a vigilance report on him based on Mr Asthana's accusations. The CBI Director was accused by Mr Asthana of taking bribe from a Hyderabad-based businessman being investigated by the agency. Mr Verma has accused Mr Asthana of the same crime.