CBI Chief Alok Verma revokes transfers done by interim director Nageshwar Rao

Hours after resuming office -  after a 77-day exile - CBI Director Alok Verma on Wednesday revoked most of the transfers orders given by interim director M Nageshwar Rao. Rao, a 1986-batch Odisha cadre IPS officer, was appointed interim Director of the CBI on October 24. The next morning, he transferred 13 officials, including the agency's Joint Director (Policy) A.K. Sharma, Deputy Inspectors General M.K. Sinha, Anish Prasad, K.R. Chaurasia, Tarun Gauba, Additional Superintendent of Police S.S. Gurm and Deputy Superintendents of Police A.K. Bassi and Ashwani Kumar. 

CBI director Alok Verma withdraws transfer orders made by M Nageswara Rao who was appointed as interim CBI Director. Section 4 and 5 of transfer orders not withdrawn. pic.twitter.com/MytrkgBf4M

— ANI (@ANI) January 9, 2019

Bassi and Sinha were investigating Verma's deputy Rakesh Asthana, who the agency has accused of corruption. On January 3, 2019, he had transferred officers of Joint Director Rank. Soon after re-joining the office today, Verma met several officials of the agency at its headquarters at south Delhi's Lodhi Road and revoked most of the transfer orders issued by Rao.     

Verma issued two orders 'withdrawing' all the transfers done by Rao on October 24, 2018, and January 3, 2019.    

Earlier on Tuesday, the Supreme Court set aside Verma's forced leave but restrained him from taking any major policy decision till the CVC probe into corruption charges against him is over. The top court said any further decision against Verma, who retires on January 31, would be taken by the high-powered committee which selects and appoints the CBI director.