Is political interference behind latest CBI row?

CBI director Alok Verma recently stalled the appointment of an officer

CBI headquarters in New Delhi | PTI CBI headquarters in New Delhi | PTI

It is not just the tussle between the CBI top brass that has spilled over into the public domain in the last few days. Alleged attempts are being made by the political class to interfere with the appointments in the premier investigation agency, according to sources familiar with the developments in the last few days.

Sources disclosed that CBI director Alok Verma and special CBI director Rakesh Asthana have been at odds after the former, while being abroad, had to personally intervene to stall a particular appointment of an officer belonging to the UP cadre on allegations of suspected reputation. The appointment in question was to be made at the level of a joint director in the probe agency. 

The alleged political interference for the appointment in the CBI was being made while Verma was away, the sources said. Asthana was supposed to hold charge of the top post since he is the second senior-most officer in the agency. 

“This has been the traditional practice in the agency over the years. On any such occasion, Mr Asthana would have discharged the duties of the CBI director. However, this particular episode demanded the intervention of the director,” said an official who did not wish to be named. The CBI spokesperson refused to comment on the issue.

Sources disclosed that Verma got a call from a CBI official of the policy division appraising him of the appointments to be made, which resulted in him directing the agency to write to the Central Vigilance Commission to wait till his return. 

As per the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act, the CVC-led committee recommends the name of the officers for appointment and extension of terms. Later, the CBI director is consulted before any recommendation is formalised. 

Former special directors and serving officers in the CBI are of the opinion that the present developments reflect the larger malaise that has been creeping into the agency over the years.

A section of CBI officials hoped that the episode does not damage the credibility of the agency given the fact that it has been termed a “caged parrot” by the Supreme Court in 2013, which had  raised concerns over alleged political interference in the agency.

Last week, the CBI wrote a letter to the CVC stating that the special director had not been given any power to represent the director in the latter’s absence. The purported letter triggered a controversy of a tussle between the CBI top brass. Incidentally, Asthana briefly held the post of the interim CBI director in 2016.

Last year, his appointment as the special director in CBI triggered a row after it was challenged by an NGO on grounds of “institutional integrity.” However, Asthana who has led investigations in high profile cases like the AugustaWestland scam and Vijay Mallya issue, continued in the post after the SC upheld his appointment. 

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