The selection panel comprises PM Narendra Modi, Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi and leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge.
New Delhi: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) could have a new director as early as next week. The selection committee, comprising Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge, will meet on 24 January to discuss the issue.
“I had asked for 25-26 (January) but the PMO suggested 24 and I gave my consent,” Kharge told ThePrint.
Kharge was the lone dissenting voice in the three-member selection committee that decided to remove Alok Verma as CBI chief. CJI Gogoi had recused himself from the panel and nominated Justice A.K. Sikri in his place, as he was a member of the Supreme Court bench that reinstated Verma as CBI director.
Verma and his deputy, special director Rakesh Asthana, had been sent on forced leave more than two months ago after they accused each other of corruption. The Supreme Court had reinstated Verma as CBI director, but curtailed his powers.
Also read: This is how Mallikarjun Kharge defended CBI director Alok Verma at selection panel meet
Against Verma’s removal
On Tuesday, Kharge wrote a letter to the Prime Minister asking him to place in the public domain key documents related to the removal of CBI chief Verma, including the Central Vigilance Commission report and the details of the selection committee meeting on 10 January that led to the controversial ouster.
He also termed the removal of Verma and appointment of N. Nageshwar Rao as interim director “illegal”.
In his letter Kharge said: “The government should establish its bona fides in fighting corruption and ensuring the integrity of the premier investigative agency by convening an immediate meeting of the selection committee to appoint a director without any further delay.
“The actions of the government indicate that it is scared of having the CBI headed by an independent director,” Kharge said, opposing Rao’s appointment “without consulting the selection committee”.
It would be a fine convention if in all such cases, appointments are made by unanimity.