Rahul Gandhi seen here holding a Rafale jet placard amid Congress protests (PTI)
The Supreme Court today, hearing the petition of exiled CBI chief Alok Verma, said an inquiry against Mr Verma has to be completed in two weeks. The Central Vigilance Commission or CVC will continue to probe the allegations against Mr Verma. However, the probe shall be headed by retired Supreme Court judge Justice AK Patnaik.
The hearing by the Supreme Court bench led by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi also said interim CBI chief M Nageswar Rao cannot take any policy decisions.
He will serve only as the CBI's administrative head Chief Justice Gogoi said, adding that all decisions he has taken since being handed charge of the premier investigating agency, must be submitted to the Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court will hear the case next after Diwali, on November 12.
The court was hearing Mr Verma's petition against the government for stripping him of his powers and sending him on forced leave. Mr Verma took the government to court after he was replaced by an interim chief in a dramatic post-midnight order on Tuesday.
Here are the LIVE updates on the Supreme Court hearing today over Alok Verma's petition:
"CBI top 2 like Caesar's wife, must be beyond suspicion", says Arun Jaitley
The Supreme Court order for a time-bound inquiry against exiled CBI chief Alok Verma was an "extremely positive development", Finance Minister Arun Jaitley today said, adding that it was in the best interest of the country that the truth comes out. "All officers of the CBI, particularly the top two, are like Caesar's wife and must be beyond suspicion," Mr Jaitley said, justifying the government's move to send Mr Verma and his deputy Rakesh Asthana on leave after they accused each other of corruption in an unprecedented public feud.
Read here.
"Removing the CBI Director Alok Verma won't help. The country will eventually get to know that PM Modi has put Rs 30,000 crore into Anil Ambani's pocket," Mr Gandhi said.
Rahul Gandhi in an attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, without referencing him directly, said, "Chowkidar chor hai (The watchman is a thief)".
Leaders from the Trinamool Congress, CPI(M) and other parties marched from Dyal Singh College in central Delhi's Lodhi Road to the CBI headquarters, 4.2 km away. Loktantrik Janata Dal leader Sharad Yadav, CPI's D Raja and TMC's Nadimul Haque also participated in the Congress protest.
Rahul Gandhi and other Congress leaders courted arrest at Lodhi Road police station.
Rahul Gandhi has reached Lodhi Colony police station.
Read Here: Rahul Gandhi Courts Arrest In Protest Against Government's CBI MoveCongress president Rahul Gandhi along with senior leaders of other opposition parties today turned up outside the CBI headquarters in Delhi in a massive show of force against what they said was the government's attempt to interfere in the probe agency's functioning. The government has sent the CBI chief Alok Verma and his deputy Rakesh Asthana on forced leave after both accused each other of taking bribe from the same businessman.
"Our nation has been brought to the fringe of anarchy, with unabated corruption and mayhem set in by the BJP regime. The people of India will not take this lying down," tweets Congress leader Sachin Pilot.
Pics Here: Congress protests over order asking CBI chief to take forced leave
Stepping up their attack against the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government, the Congress party has started their protest outside Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) offices across India demanding the reinstatement of the premier investigative agency's director Alok Verma, according to news agency ANI.
The party is also demanding an apology from Prime Minister Narendra Modi for allegedly destroying the image of the investigative agency, according to ANI.
The Congress has termed the Centre's move to send Verma on leave as a disgraceful attempt to prevent an investigation into the alleged Rafale scam.
Rahul Gandhi has approached Lodhi Road police station to court arrest, amid the protests against sending the CBI chief on forced leave.
Congress will not allow 'chowkidaar' (watchman) to do 'chori' (theft), says Rahul Gandhi, according to news agency PTI.
Every institution in India being ruined by Prime Minister Narendra Modi: Rahul Gandhi, according to news agency PTI
Recent developments at CBI has eroded its reputation, says Mr Jaitley according to news agency Press Trust of India.
"The two seniormost officers of the CBI must step aside till an investigation is carried out, so that the probe is carried out in a fair and impartial manner," says Arun Jaitley.
"What the Supreme Court has done today, is that it has further strengthened the process, and made it time bound," he said.
"The Supreme Court decision for an early outcome and being overseen by a supreme court judge, is a great move to ensure that the highest standards are maintained and a fair and impartial probe is carried out. The move is highly welcomed by the government," he added.
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley terms Supreme Court order on CBI row as "extremely positive development"
Rahul Gandhi is expected to speak outside CBI headquarters, NDTV's Sunil Prabhu reports.
Police use water cannon at Congress workers in Chandigarh.
Rahul Gandhi joins Congress protest in Delhi
AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal welcomed the order. "In the interests of the nation, hope that institutional integrity of CBI will be upheld & powers that be will understand that their illegal acts will not go unchallanged," he tweeted.
Congress workers hold protest outside the CBI office in Lucknow
CBI director was appointed with approval of selection panel having PM, Leader of Opposition and Chief Justice of India: Fali Nariman to Supreme Court
Centre and CBI will provide CVC report to court in sealed cover
The next hearing on the case will be on November 12, after Diwali.
No probe against CBI special director Rakesh Asthana.
"Nageswara Rao shall from now on not take any policy or major decisions": Supreme Court
"He will only take essential decisions. List of all decisions by Nageswara Rao between 20 October till today to be given to Supreme Court in a sealed cover," says Supreme Court.
"Inquiry against Alok Verma to be completed in 2 weeks," says Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi
The Chief Justice of India, who is hearing exiled CBI chief Alok Verma's petition, says probe into the allegations against Mr Verma should be completed by the Central Vigilance Commission or CVC in 2 weeks.
The probe is to be conducted by ex-Supreme Court judge AK Patnaik.
"Interim CBI director M Nageswar Rao will not take any policy decisions": CJI
"The ongoing enquiry by CVC will be completed within 10 days. Interim CBI director M Nageswar Rao will not take any policy decisions. Only routine admin work to keep work going. The inquiry by the CVC against Alok Verma will be competed in 10 days. Centre will give in a sealed envelope a list of all decisions taken by him," says CJI Ranjan Gogoi.
Hearing On CBI Chief Alok Verma's Petition Begins In Supreme Court
Senior jurist Fali Nariman, representing Alok Verma, begins speaking in court.
"A director appointed for 2 years with the approval of the panel. Can his tenure be breached?" asks Fali Nariman in Supreme Court.
CBI Special Director Rakesh Asthana moves Supreme Court against centre's leave order
Congress protests outside CBI headquarters
Outside CBI's Delhi headquarters, security tightened along with barricades
Security tightened and barricading outside CBI headquarters ahead of Congress protest against the removal of CBI Director Alok Verma, says news agency ANI
"It is just one more case. What is big about it?" asks Mukul Rohatgi leaving for Supreme Court
Former Attorney General and senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi leaves for Supreme Court from his residence, according to news agency ANI. He will be representing CBI Special Director Rakesh Asthana.
"It is just one more case. What is big about it? It is not as important as you think it is," says Mukul Rohatgi, quoted by ANI.
TMC lawmaker Nadeem Ul Haq will join the Congress protest led by Rahul Gandhi at Central Bureau of Investigation HQ against the removal of CBI Director Alok Verma, according to news agency ANI
CBI Special Director Rakesh Asthana outside former Attorney General and senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi's residence in Delhi: news agency ANI
Rahul Gandhi tweets on protests
A view of CBI headquarters in New Delhi
A view of CBI headquarters in New Delhi, Thursday, Oct 25, 2018 (PTI Photo)
Security beefed up in CBI headquarters at Lucknow amid Congress protests: news agency ANI
Congress activists stage a protest at the CBI office in Kolkata
Congress activists stage a protest at the CBI office in Kolkata against sending CBI director Alok Verma on leave
Former Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi will appear for Rakesh Asthana
CBI deputy director Rakesh Asthana will be represented by former Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi.
Trinamool Congress to join Congress protests a
Trinamool Congress will join the Congress party protest led by Rahul Gandhi at Central Bureau of Investigation headquarters against the removal of CBI Director Alok Verma, according to news agency ANI
Alok Verma has challenged the government order on the grounds that a 1998 verdict by the Supreme Court stipulated that the CBI Director should have a fixed minimum tenure of two years. His petition also says his deputy Rakesh Asthana "concocted evidence" against him to accuse him of corruption.
Senior jurist Fali Nariman will represent Alok Verma in Supreme Court, KK Venugopal to represent centre
Senior jurist Fali Nariman will represent Alok Verma in the Supreme Court; Attorney General KK Venugopal will represent the centre, and the Solicitor General Tushar Mehta will appear for the Central Vigilance Commission.
The centre is likely to argue that recent events have degraded the premier investigating agency and the government acted on the advice of the CVC. It may say that institutional integrity is important than any individual.
Read Here: CBI Chief Alok Verma To Challenge Forced Leave In Supreme Court Today: 10 PointsThe Central Bureau of Investigation chief Alok Verma's petition, challenging the government's decision to strip him of his powers, will be heard by the Supreme Court today. In his petition, Mr Verma, who took the government to court after its midnight action of Tuesday, said the autonomy of the country's premier investigating agency is being compromised as certain investigations into high functionaries "do not take the direction desirable to the government".