CVC has not given a clean chit to CBI chief Alok Verma: SC
16 Nov 2018
Exiled CBI director Alok Verma has not been given a clean chit for now in a vigilance report on corruption allegations against him, the Supreme Court said today.
The Central Vigilance Commission's (CVC) report is a "mixed bag" and exhaustive, Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi told the CBI chief's lawyer Fali Nariman, adding, "Further inquiry is required into some charges as per the CVC report."
"This report can be given to you in a sealed cover and you give reply in sealed cover," the Chief Justice said, adding that this was being done for the need to preserve the sanctity of the CBI and public confidence in the CBI.
The report is "complimentary on some charges, not-so-complimentary on some charges and very uncomplimentary on some charges," the court told the CBI chief’s lawyer, asking him to respond to the report in a sealed cover by Monday.
The case will be heard next on Tuesday.
The court said it would take a decision after receiving Alok Verma's response to the report of the vigilance inquiry.
The apex court had asked the CVC to wrap up its investigation into allegations against Alok Verma from his deputy Rakesh Asthana within two weeks.
Copies of the report will be given to the government and the Central Vigilance Commission but the court refused Asthana's request for a copy.
The court procedure followed government intervention in the Alok Verma-Rakesh Asthana feud that set off an unprecedented rift within the country's top investigating agency. Both accused each other of corruption; the CBI filed a case against Asthana, who, in turn, wrote to the cabinet secretary and the vigilance commission listing allegations against his boss.
Asthana had written to the government and the vigilance chief accusing Alok Verma of taking bribe from a businessman being investigated by the CBI. The special director had also accused the CBI director of not sharing with other agencies crucial intelligence inputs against two industrialists, and missing the name of a senior railway official from the report filed in the railway hotel scam involving Lalu Yadav's family.
Alok Verma had said it was Asthana who took bribe from the businessman, who wanted to be spared any CBI summons. The CBI director also launched an investigation against his deputy.