CBI top cops ‘were fighting like cats’, Centre tells SC

NEW DELHI: The Centre on Wednesday told the Supreme Court that the fight between two top officers of the CBI – director Alok Verma and his deputy, special director Rakesh Asthana – in public exposed the premier probe agency to ridicule.

Attorney general KK Venugopal told a bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Ranjan Gogoi that the fight between the two officers impacted the image of the CBI.

The Centre’s main aim was to see that confidence of the public in this premier institution is restored, he said.

ATTORNEY GENERAL SAYS CENTRE’S MAIN AIM TO DIVEST POWER FROM ALOK VERMA AND RAKESH ASTHANA WAS TO RESTORE PUBLIC CONFIDENCE IN CBI

“Dispute between CBI director and special director was pulling down integrity and respect of premier institution,” he told the bench, also comprising justices SK Kaul and KM Joseph.

“Two top officers, Alok Kumar Verma and Rakesh Asthana, were fighting against each other and went public which exposed CBI to ridicule,” Venugopal told the bench.

He said the fight between them had created an unprecedented and extraordinary situation and the Government of India was watching with “amazement” as to what these two officers were doing.

“They were fighting like Kilkenny cats,” Venugopal said, adding that it was absolutely essential for the Centre to step in and act in the tussle between two officers.

He also submitted that the Centre acted within its jurisdiction on complaints made in July and October this year.

“If the government had not done so, only god knows where and how this fight between the two top officers would have ended,” Venugopal told the bench.

The attorney general concluded his arguments, after which solicitor general Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC), made the submissions.

The Centre had perused the report of the CVC, which on Asthana’s complaint against Verma had made some recommendations. After that the two officers were sent on leave.

Later, the apex court had directed the CVC to probe the complaint against Verma. The report was submitted to the court in a sealed cover.

The apex court on November 29 had said it would first consider whether the government has the power to divest the CBI director of his duties under whatever circumstances or whether the selection committee should have been approached before moving against Verma.