Finish probe against CBI chief within 2 weeks: SC

ORDER Retired judge to monitor investigation; interim boss can’t take policy calls

NEWDELHI: The Supreme Court on Friday skirted the issue of whether the government, through the Central Vigilance Commission, had the power to effectively remove the director of the Central Bureau of Investigation, Alok Verma but insisted that an investigation into the director by CVC be supervised by retired SC judge AK Patnaik, and be concluded within two weeks.

A bench led by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi refused to grant CVC more time. “Can’t give more time, it’s not in the interest of the country,” the CJI told solicitor general Tushar Mehta who sought three weeks for the task. The court also refused to entertain a plea by CBI special director Rakesh Asthana, also divested of all responsibilities on the same day as the director (October 23), saying he had “missed the bus”. However, its order to CVC did not mention the CBI’s own probe into him which precipitated the crisis in the country’s federal investigation agency.

The third person in the highdrama that played out on the intervening night of October 23 and 24, the agency’s joint director promoted as interim director, M Nageswara Rao found his powers curtailed by the bench, which also comprised justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and KM Joseph. The court barred him from taking any “policy decision” or “major decision.” It sought all orders passed by the agency since October 23 to be shown to it by the next hearing on November 12. This includes the transfer of several officials in the agency. Rao, the court said, “will only perform routine tasks that are essential to keep the CBI functional.”

Union minister Arun Jaitley described Friday’s order as “an extremely positive development”. “The government has no interest for or against any individual. The government is interested in only maintaining the professionalism, the image and the institutional integrity of the CBI,” he said, shortly after the top court announced its directions.

Chief spokesperson of the Congress Randeep Surjewala tweeted: “Truth prevails in Supreme Court. Modi Government’s sinister attempt to capture CBI through lackeys falls flat.

A slap in face of tyrants who wanted to pin the last nail in CBI’s independence. CVC can’t act as Modi Government’s pawn but would be supervised by a SC judge to act fairly.”