SC gives CVC 2 weeks to probe claims, seeks Centre, CBI reply on Verma plea

The apex court has declared all decisions taken by interim CBI chief M Nageshwar Rao since taking charge on Oct 23 null and void.

The Supreme Court on Friday sought a response from the Central bureau of Investigation (CBI), the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) and the Centre on director Alok Kumar Verma's plea challenging the government's decision to divest him of his duties and send him on leave.

The apex court directed that interim CBI chief M Nageswara Rao shall not take any major policy decisions, and said that decisions taken by him since October 23 to date should not be implemented.

All decisions taken by Rao shall be placed before the apex court in a sealed cover.

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The top court said former Supreme Court judge A K Patnaik will oversee a Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) inquiry into the allegations and counter allegations and the report has to be placed before it within two weeks.

A bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi posted the next date of hearing on November 12.

The bench, also comprising Justices S K Kaul and K M Joseph, issued notices on the petition filed by an NGO, Common Cause, which has sought a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe against the CBI officers.

CBI's Special Director Rakesh Asthana has also been named as one of the respondents in the NGO's petition.

Verma and Asthana have made allegations of corruption against each other.

During the brief hearing Friday, senior advocate F S Nariman advanced arguments on behalf of the CBI chief.

He submitted that the CBI director was appointed with the approval of a selection panel having the Prime Minister, the Leader of Opposition and the Chief Justice of India.

Nariman referred to the CVC and Centre's orders divesting Verma of his duty. He also cited the Vineet Narain judgment to support Verma's pleas.

In the beginning, the apex court said the CVC inquiry on allegations and counter-allegations should be completed in 10 days under the supervision of this court.

CVC submitted that 10 days for inquiry was not sufficient as it has to look into several documents. It said for the time being, no monitoring by anyone else should be allowed.

The bench granted the CVC two weeks to conclude its probe.

Verma has also sought a stay of the Centre's order asking him to proceed on leave and giving the interim charge of his post to Rao, a 1986 batch Odisha-cadre IPS officer.

Business Standard