CVC Accuses Ousted CBI Director Verma Of Non-Cooperation

DEFENDING  the  decision to  ask  CBI Director  Alok Kumar  Verma to proceed  on  leave , Government  says he not cooperating with the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) and  an “extra-ordinary and unprecedented” situation had arisen due to “grave allegations of corruption” against senior functionaries of the federal  investigation agency. The environment of faction feud in the CBI has reached its peak, leading to a potential loss of its credibility and reputation of the premier investigating agency besides vitiating the work environment of the organization which has deep and visible impact on the overall governance, the government said in a statement. The CVC, on receipt of a complaint on August 24, 2018 containing various allegations against the senior functionaries of the CBI, has served three notices under Section 11 of the CVC Act, 2003 on September 11 on the CBI director to produce files and documents before the commission on September 14. Various opportunities were given to produce such records and after several adjournments, the CBI assured the commission on September 24 of furnishing them within three weeks. “Despite repeated assurances and reminders, the Director, CBI, failed to furnish the records/files before the commission. The CVC has observed that Director, CBI, has not been cooperating in making available records/files sought by the commission relating to serious allegations,” the statement said.The CVC has also observed that the CBI Director has been non-cooperative, non-compliant with the requirements/directions and has created wilful obstructions in the functioning of the commission which is a constitutional body. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley told  media that the CBI  Director  Alok Kumar Verma  due  to retire  in January  and  his deputy Rakesh  Astana have not been sacked .They will be investigated  for the allegations on  receipt  of  illegal  gratifications. Opposition parties have however slammed the government for CBI Director Alok Verma’s removal amid an escalating feud between him and his deputy Rakesh Asthana, with the Congress dubbing it the “last nail” in the agency’s independence and the CPI(M) calling it illegalel.The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) asked the reasons for sending the CBI director on leave. Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala wondered if Verma was “sacked” for his keenness to probe the “layers of corruption” in the Rafale scam and sought an answer from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.”Modi govt buries the ‘last nail’ into the independence of CBI. Systematic dismantling & denigrating of CBI is now complete. Once a premier investigating agency, PM ensures that CBI’s integrity, credibility & reliability is buried & dead,” Surjewala tweeted. Another Congress leader Congress leader Abhishek Singhvi   said the CVC has no power to interfere in removal, appointment or reappointment, and is a supervisory body. The Modi government and senior BJP leaders, scared over the Rafale issue, have implemented the ‘Gujarat model’ at the Centre and in the CBI .The government has removed Verma to control the premier agency and avoid the day of reckoning arising from “Rafale-o-phobia”, he added.TMC supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has also slammed NDA government for the removal of the CBI Director. Incidentally, some Congress and TMC leaders are being investigated by CBI for corruption cases.