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CBI imbroglio gets murkier

amid fresh accusations

News & CBI versus CBI erodes the credibility of the top investigative agency,
which for the first time finds itself in a quagmire due to internecine
views feud among its officers, as it moves from a caged to a corrupt parrot
Bharat hiteshi
he unprecedented tussle by CJI Ranjan Gogoi, heard Verma’s plea
Hiteshi is an between the CBI Director challenging the government’s order
independent journalist- Alok Verma and Special and appointed former judge Justice AK
turned-author and a Director Rakesh Asthana Patnaik, to supervise the CVC inquiry.
political commentator. the late night move strip-
The views expressed T ping the top officers of their Like Ceaser’s wife
are his own powers, giving interim charge of the Welcoming the Supreme Court decision
agency to IPS officer M Nageshwar Rao to give the Central VigilanceCommission
have eroded the credibility of the top in- (CVC) a two-week deadline to complete
vestigating agency. The infighting in the its probe against CBIdirector Alok Verma,
CBI, however, is yet to come to a conclu- Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley
sion, with the Supreme Court fixing the observed thatthe government has no
next date of hearing to November 12. interest for or against any individual, and
There are allegations and counter- iskeen only on maintaining institutional
allegations by the Director and Special integrity of the probe agency.
Director of the CBI and questions have The Supreme Court asking the CVC to
been raised against the government by complete within two weeks its inquiry
the CBI director himself. into corruption allegations against
To add to it, the Congress president the CBI chief is an “extremely positive
Rahul Gandhi gave a call for all India development,” Jaitley said. Jaitley said
protest. Gandhi was detained by Delhi the move to relieve both Verma and
Police while staging a protest in the na- Asthana of their charges was necessary
tional capital, demanding the reinstate- in the “larger interest of fairness, because
ment of CBI Director Alok Verma, who you can’t be heading an agency which is
was divested of his administrative pow- investigating into your own conduct”. He
ers and sent on leave earlier this week. said the action against Verma and Astha-
Gandhi, who was detained in Lodhi na came on recommendation of CVC.
The judicial Colony police station, was later released. “What has happened in the Supreme
Court today is that the Supreme Court
Rahul Gandhi repeated his allega-
intervention may tions “Prime Minister Narendra Modi has further strengthened the fairness
criteria,” he maintained. “They have fixed
has destroyed each and every institu-
set the CBI house tion in the country. Be it the CBI or the a time limit that this must be over in two
in order. However, Election Commission, he (the PM) is weeks, which is a positive development.
attacking each and every institution.” The
In order to ensure that the highest stand-
structural reforms protest march to the CBI headquarters ards of fairness are maintained even in
is what the premier was joined by top Congress leaders who inquiries, they have appointed a retired
demanded an apology from the PM.
judge as an oversight judge to ensure
investigative The protest by the opposition came that the CVC inquiry is absolutely fair.”
The finance minister said only an
agency needs even as the Apex Court directed the Cen- inquiry will ensure that the truth comes
tral Vigilance Commission to (CVC) to
from a long-term complete its inquiry against Alok Verma out. “The truth coming out is in the larger
interest of India,” he said. “All officers
and his deputy Rakesh Asthana within
point of view. two weeks. A three-judge bench, headed of CBI, particularly the top few officers,

Tehelka / 15 november 2018 36 www.Tehelka.com

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