The Supreme Court is hearing a plea filed by ousted CBI chief Alok Verma against the government stripping him off his powers.
ThePrint brings you the live updates here:
11.30 am: Rao will not take any major decisions or any policy decisions and will only follow routine tasks. A list of all decisions taken by Rao between 23/10 and today including transfer of investigation and change of officers will be furnished in court in a sealed cover on 12/11.
11.28 am: CJI says, have heard counsels for both parties. The inquiry in respect of allegations made in a note of the Cabinet Secretariat with respect to Alok Verma, shall be completed by the CVC within a period of 2 weeks. The inquiry will be conducted under the supervision of a retired SC judge A.K. Patnaik who is requested to ensure that the inquiry is completed in time.
11.24 am: Gogoi disagrees says there’s no diwali break for CBI and CVC.
11.23 am: CJI says the CVC inquiry will be in the nature of a preliminary enquiry only. We give you 240 hrs only no further delay. ASG Tushar Mehta, says need more time in lieu of Diwali break.
11.22 am: Present incumbent nageswar Rao will not take any policy decisions. Will only limit his role to administrative task: CJI
11.20 am: Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi says, the ongoing inquiry by the CVC will be completed under 10 days under the supervision of a judge.
26 October, 2018
5.05 pm:
12.38 pm: Both of them [CBI director Alok Verma and special director Rakesh Asthana] will sit it out by going on leave. An SIT not headed by these two officers will investigate the case, says union minister Arun Jaitley.
12.37 pm: Two main executives of the CBI face allegations. Now, who will investigate them? The requirements of fairness and fair play have to be there, says finance minister Arun Jaitley.
11.42 am:
Is there a co-relation betn Rafale deal and removal of Alok Verma? Was Alok Verma about to start investigations into Rafale, which cud become problem for Modi ji?
— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) October 24, 2018
11.41 am: Supreme Court advocate Prashant Bhushan has said that he will file a PIL on the mess within the CBI later Wednesday.
11.15 am: CBI superintendent of police Ajay Bassi, an aide of Alok Verma, has been transferred to Port Blair in ‘public interest’. He is the investigating officer in the case involving bribery allegations against Rakesh Asthana.
In his complaint to the chief vigilance commissioner (CVC) in September, Rakesh Asthana had alleged that Ajay Bassi, at the behest of CBI director Alok Verma, was carrying out “roving inquiries” about him and his family.
11.12 am: More officers from the Alok Verma camp transferred. This includes additional superintendent of police S.S. Gurm, who investigated the Sheena Bora murder case and is said to be a close confidant of Alok Verma.
10.56 am: CBI director Alok Verma has moved the Supreme Court against the government’s decision to send him on leave amid the unprecedented tussle in the agency.
Also read: Modi govt sends warring CBI bosses Alok Verma & Rakesh Asthana on leave
24 October, 2018
4:19 pm: Asthana’s advocate Sharan submitted that the complainant Sathish Sana — an alleged middleman in the Moin Qureshi corruption case — is “an accused against whom I (Asthana) recommended an order for arrest”.
“The accused tried to flee the country, and when he couldn’t, he came here and filed a complaint against me,” Asthana has contended.
4:12 pm: Asthana’s counsel said the investigation against him is illegal, since no sanction was taken as per the amended version of the Prevention of Corruption Act. He added that the investigation against Asthana is “malafide”.
Also read: Behind CBI’s No. 1 versus No. 2 battle is also a turf war in Modi’s PMO
4:09 pm: According to the special public prosecutor, the FIR against Asthana will now include Indian Penal Code Sections 388 and 389 (extortion), 467 and 468 (forgery), and 461 (dishonestly breaking open receptacle containing property), read with Section 120B (criminal conspiracy).
4:03 pm: K. Raghavacharyalu, the special public prosecutor for the CBI, submits that an amended FIR will be filed against Asthana, reflecting the additional charges that have emerged against him.
Also read: All you wanted to know about the war in CBI between Rakesh Asthana and Alok Verma
4:00 pm: Justice Waziri tells CBI, “Don’t disturb the equilibrium until then”. This, after Asthana’s advocate Amarendra Sharan and Devender Kumar’s advocate Dayan Krishnan urged that “no coercive steps” should be taken.
3:56 pm: In Devender Kumar’s case, CBI has to file a response before next date of hearing, says Justice Najmi Waziri
3:49 pm: Petitioners Asthana and Devender Kumar have been directed to preserve all electronic records in their possession, including mobile phone records
3:47 pm: Next date of hearing 29 October. Asthana won’t be arrested till then
3:45 pm: Court issues notice to Centre, CBI. Asks them to file their responses to Asthana’s plea
Also read: CBI is no longer India’s premier investigation agency, it is a self-destructive monster
3:44 pm: Asthana’s lawyer tells court he may be arrested. Asks court to tell CBI not to take any coercive action
3:41 pm: Correction – Court adjourns matter to Monday at 2 pm, orders status quo to be maintained
3:40 pm: Delhi High Court says Asthana won’t be arrested
The CVC would observe that the apex court considers it prudent to have its enquiry monitored by a retired SC judge.
It is disgusting a SIT must be formed to look into the cross allegation made against each other till such time both of them made to be step down from their position may be allowed to proceed on long leave till such time the inquiry completed. It appears they have lost their sense in bringing down the reputation of the CBI to such a lower level. Even the people who are encouraging for such a down show must be identified & punished along with them. Tx.