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Alok Verma case: SC orders CVC probe, asks interim CBI chief not to take policy decisions

PTI
New Delhi, Delhi, IndiaUpdated: Oct 26, 2018, 03:49 PM IST
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Alok Verma.  Photograph:(Twitter)

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The CJI has directed that Verma will not take any policy decisions and will only handle routine day-to-day work. 

The Supreme Court Friday sought a response from Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) and the Centre on agency Director Alok Kumar Verma's plea challenging the government's decision to divest him of his duties and send him on leave.

The apex court directed that interim CBI chief M Nageswara Rao shall not take any major policy decisions. Decisions taken by him since October 23 till date shall not be implemented, it said.

All decisions taken by Rao shall be placed before the apex court in a sealed cover.

A bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi heard the plea. Senior advocate F S Nariman advanced arguments on behalf of the CBI chief.

Nariman referred to the CVC and Centre's orders divesting Verma of his duty. He also cited the Vineet Narain judgment to support Verma's pleas.

The bench, also comprising Justices S K Kaul and K M Joseph, issued notices on the petition filed by an NGO, Common Cause, which has sought a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe against the CBI officers.

CBI's Special Director Rakesh Asthana has also been named as one of the respondents in the NGO's petition.

Verma and Asthana have made allegations of corruption against each other.

The top court today said former Supreme Court judge A K Patnaik will oversee a Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) inquiry into the allegations and counter allegations and the report has to be placed before it within two weeks.

Next date of hearing has been scheduled to November 12.