In a dramatic development in the ongoing tussle between CBI Director Alok Verma and his deputy, Special Director Rakesh Asthana, the Narendra Modi government late on Tuesday divested both officials of charge, sending them on leave. The Modi government also issued an order informing that M. Nageshwar Rao, CBI joint director, would take over as interim director of the investigative agency.
Media reports on Wednesday morning said the CBI headquarters in Delhi had been sealed and raids were continuing with neither staff nor outsiders allowed entry.
Earlier on Tuesday, the Delhi High Court, in response to a plea from Asthana, ordered 'status quo' be maintained by the CBI with respect to initiating criminal proceedings against him in a bribery case. The Delhi High Court, however, noted investigations into the bribery case could continue. The tussle between Asthana, perceived to be close to Modi, and Verma started several months ago. Asthana had complained against Verma in August this year.
On Sunday, the CBI had filed a bribery case against Asthana and some other officers. The CBI had booked Asthana for allegedly receiving bribes from middlemen to give relief to a businessman being probed by him in a case involving meat exporter Moin Qureshi. On Monday, following the dramatic turn of events, Modi summoned both Asthana and Verma.
The crisis at the CBI has also attracted political attention, with Congress chief Rahul Gandhi alleging Asthana was Modi's “blue-eyed boy”, noting the investigative agency was now at war with itself.