Delhi Police PSOs, who caught IB operatives near Alok Verma's house, shifted to 'undisclosed location': Reports

A day after four operatives of the Intelligence Bureau (IB) were caught near the official residence of Alok Verma, the Delhi Police on Friday withdrew two of its Personal Security Officers (PSOs) posted with the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) director and placed them in an 'undisclosed location'.

The move by the Delhi Police came amid severe reprisal from the IB over the incident, according to reports. The IB is apparently unhappy over the way the Delhi Police PSOs handled four of its operatives on duty near the CBI director's house.

While Home Ministry officials said the four men were on "routine, covert" duties in the high-security area outside Verma's 2 Janpath residence, sources said they were taken away by the police for questioning and later let off.

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In an unprecedented move by the Central government, Verma and CBI's Special Director Rakesh Asthana were sent on leave till further notice and their offices were sealed on Wednesday.

The Delhi Police fears for the lives of its PSOs.  "They have been moved out and the situation will be assessed further," the sources told news agency ANI.

Talks between senior IB officials and the Delhi Police have been going on since Thursday to sort out any misunderstanding between the two organisations. Till the time the two agencies are able to resolve their differences, the Delhi Police decision to shift the personnel to safe place is a precautionary measure so that the IB does not pick up these men.

According to reports, the IB Director had met National Security Advisor Ajit Doval on Friday morning and apprised him of the incident.

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Meanwhile, the Supreme Court on Friday set a deadline of two weeks for the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) to complete the inquiry against Verma, who has been divested of his duties and sent on leave in view of the feud between him and Special Director Rakesh Asthana.

The court directed that the inquiry be conducted under the supervision of a retired apex court judge and also barred IPS officer M Nageswara Rao, who has been given interim charge of looking after the duties of the CBI Director, from taking any policy decision or any major decision.

(With agency inputs)