Congress hints at midnight conspiracy in CBI director's removal

Congress Party spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala on Saturday leveled strong charges of rules being tweaked for the temporary removal of Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Director Alok Verma.

Addressing the media here, Surjewala claimed that a conspiracy was hatched in the dark hours of the night as the CBI was about to register an FIR regarding corruption in the Rafale deal. He also released details of the various steps that led to the removal of Alok Verma from an active role in CBI.

"CVC chief KV Chaudhary had to leave for an official tour to Denmark on 23rd October, which was canceled abruptly. Even before CVC orders, CBI Joint Director M Nageshwar Rao was sent to CBI office in the anticipation of the order of removal of CBI director by CVC around 11:00 PM. At 11:30, Delhi police commissioner alerted his subordinates that an operation has to be conducted tonight and Khan Market would be the meeting point. Delhi police than reaches CBI headquarters but CISF is already stationed there which prohibits Delhi police from entering it. CISF chief receives a call from some high office and Delhi police are allowed to enter," he explained.

Surjewala continued, "Simultaneously, CVC along with his two associates between 8 pm to 12:30 am, issues an order of with which CBI director is divested of his duties. At 12:30 this order of CVC goes to North Block to secretary personnel. Despite the closing of the office, the secretary personnel stays put at his office at around 12:30-1:00 am. After receiving the order he goes to the Prime Minister's office where a meeting of cabinet committee of appointments takes place which removes the CBI director Alok Verma and appoints a new director. The head of this cabinet committee is Prime Minister Narendra Modi itself. Alok Verma is served the order at 2:30 am at his residence."

After outlining a serious breach of the conventional pattern required to be followed for taking such a step, the Congress spokesperson further raised a series of questions.

"We want to ask as to who ordered CVC to cancel his Denmark visit and issue a midnight order of removal of CBI director? What powers are forcing CVC to issue such illegal orders? We also want o know whether CVC went to CBI headquarters on that night or not?"

Furthermore, former chief minister of Rajasthan Ashok Gehlot also claimed that the government has been completely exposed.

"It is very unfortunate that people who have no faith in the democracy have come to the government. The Prime Minister has been completely exposed. The country is being run by only two people- Amit Shah and Narendra Modi," he noted.

Newly-inducted Congress leader Tariq Anwar further said, "It has become important now that Congress must be strengthened because if there can be an alternative now, it is Congress."

The government recently sent Alok Verma and his deputy Rakesh Asthana on leave after both leveled allegations of accepting bribes at each other. However, the CBI on Thursday informed that Verma and Asthana would continue to remain the CBI Director and Special Director, respectively.