CVC delays filing CBI director Alok Verma report; SC defers hearing to Nov 16

After pulling up the Modi government for filing the CVC report probing CBI Director Alok Verma only on Monday, the Supreme Court defers the hearing into the plea of Alok Verma and NGO Common Cause to Friday, November 16.

Tushar Mehta told the court that the former SC judge AK Patnaik had supervised the CVC inquiry which was completed on November 10.

Rapping Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, CJI Ranjan Gogoi pointed out, “The Registry was opened on a Sunday till 12.30 yesterday and you couldn’t file the CVC report on time. How long our Registry will go on waiting.” The CJI observed that no intimation was given to the Registrar regarding filing of the report.

Tushar Mehta had submitted CVC report on enquiry against CBI Chief Alok Verma to SC on Monday. The government had to submit it earlier.

Later, Mehta tendered an apology stating that there was a delay on their part to submit the report.

Interim CBI Director M Nageswar Rao also filed a report on decisions taken by him since October 23 as head of agency.

SC on October 26, had asked CVC to complete inquiry in respect of the allegation made against CBI Director Alok Verma within a period of 2 weeks

CBI Director Alok Verma was accused of accepting a bribe in the Moin Qureshi case by Special CBI Director Rakesh Asthana, who himself is accused of indulging in corrupt practices by the former.

Asthana has appeared before the three-member CVC headed by K V Chowdary and is understood to have given point-wise refusal to all the allegations levelled against him by his deputy.

Tussle between Verma and Asthana escalated last month, leading to the registration of an FIR against Asthana and others, including Deputy SP Devender Kumar. the tussle between the two senior officers became public, the Centre sent the duo on leave and divested them of their duties.

The decision of the BJP led Central government was challenged by Verma in the top court which issued notices to both the central government and the CVC. The court directed the CVC to complete the preliminary inquiry against the CBI director.

Meanwhile, the court had also barred IPS officer M Nageswara Rao, who has been given interim charge of the CBI, from taking any major decision.