Sending a clear message that the government was going into damage control mode, CBI's interim director Nageshwar Rao passed an order on Wednesday removing the entire team that was probing the bribery case against Special Director Rakesh Asthana. Meanwhile, it has emerged that CBI Director Alok Verma had himself signed the orders divesting his deputy Asthana of his responsibilities, before being served a notice from the Centre divesting him of his duties.
Interestingly, the first order passed by Nageshwar Rao as the CBI's interim director on Wednesday was to change Deputy SP Ajay Bassi—the investigation officer (IO) in the Asthana bribery case—and transfer him to Port Blair. It is to be noted that Asthana had alleged in his complaint to the Central Vigilance Commissioner (CVC) that Bassi was acting at the behest of ousted CBI director Alok Verma. Bassi has been replaced as the IO by SP Satish Dagar.
Bassi's immediate boss, Additional SP S.S. Gurm, has been transferred to Jabalpur. Deputy Inspector General Manish Sinha too has been removed from the case. In addition, Joint Director A.K. Sharma, a powerful officer in the CBI, has been transferred internally. The bribery case was under the Anti-Corruption Headquarters Zone, which was headed by Sharma. Another joint director, V. Murugesan, who was working under Asthana earlier, will now look after the Anti-Corruption Headquarters Zone.
In addition, it is learnt that Sharma would no longer be in charge of the most crucial policy division of the CBI. Amit Kumar, a DIG who was also working under Asthana earlier, has been made in-charge of the policy division. The policy division acts as vigilance unit of the agency and all technical surveillance tools are under it.
The notices informing the changes were signed by a CBI joint director N.M. Singh and with the approval of the CBI director hours after Rao took charge. However, sources said it remains to be seen whether Rao reverses other orders of his predecessor.
In an order served at 2.30am on Wednesday, the government informed Verma that he had been divested of all responsibilities. The appointments committee of the Cabinet headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi appointed Rao, the senior-most joint director in the CBI, as the director. However, Verma has decided to challenge his ouster and moved the Supreme Court on Wednesday. The Supreme Court is expected to take up Verma's petition on Friday.
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Earlier, the CBI had registered an FIR against Asthana, accusing him of receiving a bribe in a case against controversial meat exporter Moin Qureshi. Asthana, on the other hand, has accused Verma of taking a bribe in the same case. Meanwhile, the CVC, which has a supervisory role over the CBI, is expected to order an independent probe into the allegations and counter-allegations between the two ousted officers.
There was high drama at the CBI headquarters on Wednesday morning after the news broke of the removal of Verma from the post of CBI director. The offices of both Verma and Asthana have been sealed even as no staff was being allowed on the 11th floor where both the offices were located.
Notably, the government intervened and divested Verma of his charge a day after the internal feud within the CBI reached the doorstep of the judiciary. Asthana had approached the Delhi High Court on Tuesday seeking quashing of the FIR against him and protection from arrest.
