All eyes on CVC report on Alok Verma today

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All eyes on CVC report on Alok Verma today

Monday, 12 November 2018 | PNS | New Delhi

All eyes on CVC report on Alok Verma today

The Central Vigilance Commission is slated to submit a report on its enquiry against benched CBI Director Alok Verma on Monday. The CVC was  tasked by the Supreme Court on October 26 to probe within two weeks the allegations of bribery and meddling in high profile cases by Verma as alleged by CBI Special Director Rakesh Asthana through a complaint to the Cabinet Secretary on August 24.

The apex court is scheduled to hear the matter relating to allegations against Verma on Monday. After going through the CVC’s report, it may take a call if further probe is required against Verma.

The SC had appointed former apex court judge AK Patnaik to supervise the CVC enquiry against Verma.

Amid continuing public feud between Verma and his deputy through allegations and counter allegations, the duo was sent on leave by the Government on October 23 and both were divested of their supervisory functions of the CBI till the CVC probe was over.

All eyes will be set on the hearing as Verma had appeared thrice before the vigilance watchdog as part of the enquiry against him. While Verma had denied the allegations levelled by Asthana against him, he could not explain his failure in submitting the case files despite repeated reminders by the CVC.

Verma’s plea challenging the Government’s move against him was heard by a three-judge Bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi on October 26. The matter will now be heard on November 12 before a two-judge Bench comprising the CJI and Justice SK Kaul.

During the hearing on Verma’s plea on October 26, the SC had issued notices to the Centre and the CVC while setting a deadline of two weeks for the CVC to complete the preliminary enquiry against the CBI Director.

The court had also restrained CBI Joint Director and IPS officer M Nageswara Rao, who has been given interim charge of the agency, from taking any major policy decision.

On Monday, the top court would also peruse the decisions taken by Rao from October 23, including transfer of investigations and change of investigating officers and is expected to pass appropriate order on such decisions.

During the last hearing, the court had said a list of all the decisions taken by Rao between “October 23, 2018 and up to this hour including decisions with regard to transfer of investigations, change of investigating officer(s) etc will be furnished to the court in a sealed cover on or before November 12, 2018 where after orders as would be appropriate will be passed by the court.”

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the CVC before the SC, had said the CVC has been conducting an enquiry into the allegations made in the August 24 note/letter of the Cabinet Secretary with regard to Verma.

“We want to see preliminary probe report in 10 days to decide whether it requires further probe,” the Bench had said and later extended the deadline to 14 days when the SG argued for more time to complete the enquiry by the CVC.

Asthana has also moved the SC with a separate petition in the matter challenging the Government decision to divest him of his powers and send him on leave. In his plea, Asthana had also sought removal of Verma from the post of CBI Director.

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