CBI director Alok Verma and CBI No. 2 Rakesh Asthana have been sent on forced leave
Highlights
- Report on exiled CBI director Alok Verma handed over in sealed cover
- Court rebukes vigilance body for submitting the report late
- The case will be taken up on Friday
An inquiry report into corruption allegations against exiled CBI director Alok Verma was handed over in a sealed cover to the Supreme Court today by the Central Vigilance Commission, which had to apologise for being a day late in submitting the document. The case will be taken up on Friday, said Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi, rebuking the vigilance body for submitting the report late even though the office was kept open on Sunday.
"We kept the registry open even on Sunday since morning but you didn't come. You didn't even inform us," said the judges.
The Central Vigilance Commission, the country's top anti-corruption body, said it had completed its report on Saturday but was delayed by an hour because it was preparing copies and spiral binding. "We apologise for the delay. We came to court one hour late but the Registry was open only up to 11.30 pm," said Tushar Mehta, representing the commission.
Lawyer Prashant Bhushan commented later in a tweet: "Govt works at midnight to remove CBI chief & install their man, but can't file report on Sunday!''
The vigilance body also submitted another report on decisions taken by M Nageswar Rao, the officer who took over as interim chief after Alok Verma was sent on forced leave last month in a dramatic post-midnight government move.
Alok Verma and his deputy Rakesh Asthana, the two top officers of the CBI or Central Bureau of Investigation, were both sent on leave after they accused each other of taking bribe in the investigation of a businessman.
Alok Verma launched an investigation and the CBI even filed a case against Mr Asthana, who in turn wrote to the centre and the vigilance panel against his boss.
On October 26, Alok Verma went to the Supreme Court, which asked the vigilance commission to complete its inquiry against the CBI chief within two weeks. The court also said Nageswar Rao would not take any major decision and only stick to administrative calls.
On taking charge the same night Alok Verma was sent on leave, Mr Rao had signed off on the mass transfer of many CBI officers. One of them, AK Bassi, was transferred to the Andamans.
Alok Verma appeared before the three-member vigilance body and rebutted the allegations against him.