Alok Verma Still in Delhi, Nothing to Prove He’s Been Transferred, A-G Venugopal Tells SC

NEW DELHI, NOV 29:

The Supreme Court is hearing Alok Verma’s plea challenging the government’s order divesting him of his duties and sending him on leave. In the beginning of the hearing, Verma distanced himself from DIG Manish Kumar Sinha’s allegations against NSA Ajit Doval, Union Minister Haribhai Parthibhai Chaudhary and CVC KV Chowdhury of attempts to interfere in the probe against CBI special director Rakesh Asthana.

The bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi is likely to consider the response of Verma given in a sealed cover on the findings of the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) in the preliminary inquiry against him. The bench is also likely to consider the report of acting CBI director M Nageswara Rao also filed in a sealed cover in the court with regard to the decisions taken by him from October 23-26.Besides the plea filed by Verma, the court is also likely to hear the PIL filed by NGO Common Cause, which has sought a probe by a special investigation team against CBI officers.

If the CVC wrote to the government under its power of superintendence of investigation of corruption cases, could the government issue its order under the residuary power? CVC wrote under Section 8 qua investigation but government issued orders under residuary powers: CJI’s question to A-G Venugopal.

A-G Venugopal tells the Supreme Court that Alok Verma is in Delhi, in the same house and hence there is nothing to construe that he has been transferred.

“After making its recommendation for the CBI chief, the committee is functus officio and hence the question of going back to the same committee doesn’t arise at all… CBI has been in a disgrace with all that’s happening,” Venugopal tells Supreme Court.