CBI chief Alok Verma removed by PM Narendra Modi-led panel on charges of corruption and dereliction of duty

Just two days after Supreme Court reinstated him as CBI director, Alok Verma was today removed as chief of the investigative agency by PM Modi-led panel.

Alok Verma, a 1979-batch AGMUT-cadre IPS officer, has been removed from the high-profile post on the charges of corruption and dereliction of duty, making him the first chief in the history of the agency to face such action, officials said.

The charge of the CBI has been given to Additional Director M Nageshwar Rao, a government order issued on Thursday evening said.

There were eight counts of charges against him in the CVC report presented before the Committee also comprising Leader of Congress in Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge and Justice A K Sikri, appointed by Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi as his nominee.

The decision was taken by a majority with Kharge opposing the move, officials said.

Kharge has expressed his dissent to the decision which was taken by a majority of 2:1.

The court on Tuesday while reinstating Verma, however, had made it clear that he will desist from taking any major policy decision till a high-powered committee considers the issue of "divestment of power and authority". 

Verma's two-year tenure as CBI director is scheduled to end on January 31.

The CBI chief and his deputy Special Director Rakesh Asthana were sent on the forced leave over two months ago to stop the "kilkenny cat fight" between them. They had accused each other of corruption.

Verma, who resumed office on Wednesday, had revoked most of the transfers done by M Nageshwar Rao, who was appointed as the interim CBI chief in his absence.

(With inputs from PTI)