Exiled CBI chief Alok Verma files response on CVC report in Supreme Court

Exiled Central Bureau of India (CBI) Director Alok Verma on Monday filed his response to Central Vigilance Commission's probe report on corruption allegations against him before the Supreme Court in a sealed cover. Hearing the matter, a bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi had described the CVC report a “mix” and directed Verma to file his response by November 19. The court will assess the response during the next hearing on Tuesday before pronouncing its judgment into the plea filed by Verma.

The CVC report on allegations of bribery against the CBI chief is "complimentary on some charges, not so complimentary on some charges and very uncomplimentary on some charges," the court had observed during the last week's hearing and posted the matter for next hearing on November 20.

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According to reports, the CVC has not found any evidence of taking bribery against Verma but observed "administrative lapses". Verma’s deputy Rakesh Asthana had accused him of taking bribery from a Hyderabad-based businessman Sathish Babu Sana to clear his name from the Moin Qureshi case.

Verma also accused Asthana of taking bribery from Sana. He produced Sana before a magistrate court where the latter claimed to pay Rs 3 crore to Asthana. The ugly infighting in the CBI came out in open after the agency registered an FIR against Asthana.

Amid the controversy, the Centre on October 24 deprived the two warring CBI officers of their powers and sent them on an indefinite leave. Verma challenged the government's decision in the Supreme Court, which ordered the CVC to complete a preliminary inquiry into the allegations against the CBI chief in two weeks.

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