New CBI director to be named today by Modi led committee

Guwahati: The reinstated CBI chief Alok Verma’s ousting took place some two weeks before and ever since the topmost position is lying vacant and it is for filling this vacant post that a panel of top personnel including PM Modi are to sit together and name the new CBI chief. Once the CBI chief is named today, the confusions and controversial centering the coveted position will also come to an end.

Notably, although the Supreme Court had reinstated the previous CBI chief Alok Verma and he was back into power but he could retain the position for hardly 48 hours. Verma was once again ousted from power by PM Modi-led panel in a 2:1 result. The decision of the panel was against Verma’s continuance as CBI chief which stated that “the extremely serious nature of observations made by the CVC against Verma”. The panel, after ousting Verma, appointed M Nageswara Rao as CBI Interim Director.

The PM-led panel who ousted Verma from his position also included Mallikarjun Kharge and Justice Sikri, who had attended the panel on being asked by CJI Ranjan Gogoi to represent him. Among the persons present on the panel, it was Mallikarjun Kharge who appeared to be the lone dissenter and the decision of the panel resulted in 2:1 ratio. The panel made it clear that as there are allegations against the CBI Director and these are technically “pending inquiry”, hence, he cannot be termed as a completely eligible person to hold the position.

In the meantime, Justice Sikri kept himself recused from hearing a plea that was heard challenging the appointment of Nageswar Rao. The plea was made stating the matter that Rao’s appointment was done without the authority of law because not anybody but a high-powered committee only has the authority to appoint a director.

Kharge, henceforth, wrote a letter to the Prime Minister urging him to make the findings of the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC), Justice A K Patnaik’s report on Verma public.

Apart from the preparations to appoint the CBI chief, the ousted chief Alok Verma said he “tried to uphold the integrity of the institution while attempts were being made to destroy it”. Moreover, he refused to take charge as Director General, Fire Services, Civil Defence and Home Guards and told the government that he “may be deemed as superannuated” with immediate effect.

Also read: Alok Verma meets Chief Vigilance Commissioner (CVC)