CBI Director Alok Verma appears before CVC for questioning

Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Director Alok Verma appeared before the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) on Friday in connection with an inquiry into corruption charges levelled against him. Verma appeared before the panel headed by Central Vigilance Commissioner KV Chowdary and comprising Vigilance Commissioners Sharad Kumar and TM Bhasin among others, officials said, without citing any other details.

The Supreme Court had given a two-week deadline to the CVC on October 26 to complete its inquiry into allegations levelled by CBI special director Rakesh Asthana against his boss and CBI chief Alok Verma.

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Verma had also on Thursday met Chowdary and Kumar in connection with the inquiry. However, he refused to be examined as one of the commissioners, TM Bhasin, was not present in the office, which meant the inquiry was postponed till Friday.

The CVC recorded the statement of Hyderabad-based businessman Sana Satish Babu on Wednesday, said officials familiar with the matter. “Sana Satish Babu’s examination is crucial. He was first called on Tuesday by the CVC and his examination continued on Deepavali day as well, and well into Thursday,” said an official as quoted by Hindustan Times.

According to special director Asthana, Sana Satish Babu paid a bribe of Rs 2 crore to save himself from CBI action in the Moin Qureshi case. CBI was probing meat exporter Qureshi on charges of extortion. The case against Qureshi was being investigated by a special investigation team under the supervision of Rakesh Asthana.

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The government had sent Verma on leave on October 24 following the controversy and had appointed Nageshwar Rao as the interim chief with immediate effect. Special director Rakesh Asthana was also sent on leave.