In a startling disclosure, the Intelligence Bureau told THE WEEK that its unit was apprehended outside ousted CBI director Alok Verma’s official residence early on Thursday morning. Since such officials are on routine duties in high-security zones, they carry their identity cards, said top sources in IB. The IB was livid at the treatment of its sleuths.
Senior officials in IB said the intelligence agency was entrusted with the responsibility of collecting intelligence on situations that may affect “public order and internal security". The IB sources, however, denied the officials were there for surveillance. “This is unlike surveillance, which is done covertly, without any visible appurtenances,” the top IB officials told THE WEEK. The sources said that one such unit, in the early hours of Thursday, halted on Janpath, where there was an “unusual collection of people". The halt was made to check why the people had collected at the location, the sources said. This is a high-security zone where several protectees reside, they added. “Unfortunately, their presence was projected otherwise,” a senior official said.
The apprehended IB sleuths have been identified as Prashant, Vinit Gupta and Amit Kumar who are junior intelligence officers working under the Union Home Ministry. They were apprehended after Verma’s Personal Security Officers (PSOs) raised alarm and caught them outside the residence on Janpath road. Besides the identity cards, the police have recovered mobile phones, CGHS cards, PAN cards from the men. They were taken to the Delhi police headquarters for questioning even as the IB, after its initial denial, started looking into the matter.
also read
- Unnao rape case: CBI moves Supreme Court to challenge Delhi HC order suspending Kuldeep Singh Sengar's sentence
- CBI nabs army officer couple, private individual in bribery case involving Dubai-based firm
- Karur stampede: Why is Tamil Nadu govt fighting a CBI probe into TVK leader Vijay's rally?
- ‘Every day, we see double standards of SEBI’: Supreme Court in Sammaan Capital case
A senior IB official said the agency's units were routinely deployed on a regular basis in sensitive areas and at times, this was done with local law enforcement agencies. At other times, “a surprise element is also built in". This also enables law enforcement agencies to respond immediately to developing situations, he added.
Initially, the Intelligence Bureau sources said the agency was looking into the alleged snooping by its men outside Verma’s residence. Verma is staying in the official residence of the CBI director on Janpath road. Verma was divested of all powers and functions early Wednesday morning after the government issued an order at 2.30 am saying he would no longer perform the duties of CBI director. The decision came following a bitter battle being fought between Verma and CBI's special director Rakesh Asthana. Asthana has also been divested of his charge.
The CBI infighting and the subsequent government crackdown has created an environment of suspicion among the power circles in New Delhi, particularly the law enforcement agencies and the Indian Police Service officials who are divided on the issue.
Now the IB appears to have got caught in the ongoing controversy. The presence of their men outside the directors house is likely to generate a political storm as opposition political parties are watching the developments closely and accusing the government of interference in the law enforcement agencies.
Verma had on Wednesday approached the Supreme Court against the government decision to remove him saying it was done without following the due procedure. Notably, Verma is a former police commissioner of Delhi.
