CBI: Alok Verma testifies before CVC; Asthana reaches to testify without appointment

Alok Verma, who appeared at CVC headquarters, told panel that Asthana had made frivolous complaints against him because there was an FIR pending against him and he feared he would be arrested

CBI:  Alok Verma testifies before CVC; Asthana reaches to testify without appointment
user

NH Web Desk

CBI Director Alok Verma on Friday, October 9, blamed special director Rakesh Asthana for corruption and denied complaints as he deposed before a panel headed by Central Vigilance Commissioner (CVC) KV Chowdary.

In an hour-long examination before the enquiry committee comprising Chowdary, retired Supreme Court judge AK Patnaik and Vigilance Commissioners Tejendra Mohan Bhasin and Sharad Kumar, Verma denied the allegations levelled against him by Asthana, informed sources said.

Verma, who appeared at the Central Vigilance Commission headquarters, told the panel that Asthana had made frivolous complaints against him because there was an FIR pending against him (Asthana) and he feared he would be arrested.

Asthana, who had met Chowdary and Vigilance Commissioner Sharad Kumar on Thursday and is understood to have given documentary evidence in support of his charges levelled against Verma, went again to the CVC office around 4.45 pm on Friday but left after about 10 minutes without managing to meet anyone since he did not have scheduled appointment

“He could not meet Chowdary or any of the Vigilance Commissioners as they, along with other senior officials, were in a meeting,” said an official.

Refuting allegations of corruption against him, Verma said his actions were in the interest of the probe against Asthana.

Verma had on Thursday too appeared before the enquiry committee but the meeting was postponed for Friday due to the non-availability of a Vigilance Commissioner.

The Commission had examined several CBI officers who were part of the team probing cases that figured in Asthana’s complaint against Verma

Earlier this week, Verma responded in writing to a questionnaire sent by CVC but the panel was not satisfied with his reply and sought his physical appearance.

A 1979 batch IPS officer, Verma was sent on forced leave and divested of all his powers on October 23 after his name surfaced in a corruption scandal. Three days later the Supreme Court told the CVC to complete its inquiry against Verma in two weeks.

The war in the country's premier investigating agency came to the fore after an FIR was lodged against Asthana, who has also been divested of all powers, and others on the statement of Hyderabad-based businessman Sathish Babu Sana.

Asthana blamed Verma of not filing a FIR and chargesheet in a case involving an Enforcement Directorate official, said the sources, adding the Special Director also accused Verma of preventing raids at the house of former Bihar Chief Minister Lalu Prasad in an IRCTC case.

The Commission had examined several CBI officers who were part of the team probing cases that figured in Asthana's complaint against Verma.

Follow us on: Facebook, Twitter, Google News, Instagram 

Join our official telegram channel (@nationalherald) and stay updated with the latest headlines