CVC submits inquiry report on CBI chief Alok Verma in Supreme Court, next hearing on Friday

The Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) on Monday submitted its preliminary inquiry report on exiled Central Bureau of India (CBI) Director Alok Verma in a sealed cover before the Supreme Court. The report was taken on record by a bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi. The court has fixed November 16 the next date of hearing.

Interim CBI chief M Nageshwar Rao, who was asked by the court to provide details of the decisions taken by him after taking over the responsibility on October 23, also filed his report.

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During the hearing, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta also tendered an apology for not submitting the report on time after the court observed that the Registry was kept open on Sunday but no intimation was given to the Registrar regarding the filing of the report.

Verma's deputy, special director Rakesh Asthana has accused him of bribery and wrongdoings. The CBI chief had also accused his deputy Asthana of bribery and registered a case against him.

The two warring officers of the country's premier investigative agency has been at loggerheads for a long time. However, the feud between the two escalated further after registration of an FIR against Asthana.

Following the ugly infighting, the Centre, in an unexpected decision, had scrapped the CBI chief and his deputy of their powers and sent them on indefinite leave.

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Verma challenged the government’s decision to divest his powers in the Supreme Court, which had given the CVC two weeks time to complete a preliminary inquiry against him. The deadline ended on Sunday.