This article exists as part of the online archive for HuffPost India, which closed in 2020. Some features are no longer enabled. If you have questions or concerns about this article, please contact indiasupport@huffpost.com.

Alok Verma Removed As CBI Chief, Appointed Chief Of Fire Services

M Nageshwar Rao will again be given charge as the CBI director, reports said.
A file image of Alok Verma.
Hindustan Times via Getty Images
A file image of Alok Verma.

Alok Verma was on Thursday removed as the CBI chief after the meeting of the selection panel headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, according to reports. He has now been made the Director General of fire services, India Today reported.

Meanwhile, The Tribune reported that M Nageshwar Rao, who was appointed as the interim chief in Verma’s absence, will again be given charge as the CBI director.

The high-powered committee headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi met for over two hours on Thursday to decide the fate of Verma, who was reinstated by a Supreme Court order earlier this week after he was sent on forced leave by the government last year.

The meeting was also attended by Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge and Justice AK Sikri, who was nominated by Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi to represent him.

Ahead of the meeting, Kharge said he has sought documents, including enquiry report by the Central Vigilance Commission into the matter.

“I have asked for certain documents from the government concerning the matter including the CVC’s enquiry reports,” he told reporters on Thursday.

Verma and Rakesh Asthana were sent on a forced leave over two months ago to stop the “kilkenny cat fight” between them. They had accused each other of corruption.

The apex court had on Tuesday reinstated Verma as the CBI director, quashing the government’s order.

The court, while reinstating Verma, however, made it clear that he will desist from taking any major policy decision till a high-powered committee considers the issue of “divestment of power and authority”.

Verma, who resumed office on Wednesday, had revoked most of the transfers done by Rao.

The top court had asked the government to convene the meeting within a week of its order.

(With PTI inputs)

Close
This article exists as part of the online archive for HuffPost India, which closed in 2020. Some features are no longer enabled. If you have questions or concerns about this article, please contact indiasupport@huffpost.com.