WHAT WE KNOW TILL NOW

October 15:

Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Director Alok Verma accuses deputy Rakesh Asthana of taking bribe of ~30 million.

Asthana denies accusation; accuses Verma of taking ~20 million bribe, stopping raids against Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad

October 22:

CBI conducts raid at its own headquarters in New Delhi, arrests DSP Devender Kumar

October 23:

Asthana approaches the Delhi High Court. Court refuses to squash FIR; says he will not be arrested till next Monday

October 24:

In an overnight move, government sends Verma and Asthana on leave; appoints 1986 Odisha cadre IPS officer M Nageshwar Raoas chief

A special investigation team will investigate cases against them and they have been divested of all powers. Verma moves the Supreme Court (SC) against the move

THE FEUD

The feud began when Verma opposed Asthana’s appointment as special director. The Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) heard the complaints but cleared Asthana for the post. He was handling cases related to Vijay Mallya, Agusta Westland, and land acquisition in Haryana. Non-government organisation, Common Cause, also filed a PIL against Asthana’s elevation, but the SC rejected the case. Verma told the CVC that a number of cases were pending against Asthana; the latter requested the government to intervene