CVC submits report on Verma to SC

The Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) on Monday submitted to the Supreme Court its report on a preliminary inquiry into allegations raised against CBI Director Alok Verma by his deputy and Special Director, Rakesh Asthana.

Another report was also submitted before the bench of Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul on the decisions taken by the officiating CBI Director M. Nageswara Rao since he took Verma's place.

The top court by its October 26 order had barred acting CBI Director Nageshwar Rao from taking any policy decision except relating to routine task.

The court had sought the list of all the decisions taken by Nageshwar Rao between October 23, 2018 and up to the time of the passing of the court's order "including decisions with regard to transfer of investigations and change of investigating officer(s)."

Taking on record the CVC reports of the preliminary inquiry into the allegations against Verma and also the report on the decisions taken by Acting CBI Director Nageshwar Rao, the court said such matters will be considered on November 16, the next hearing.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told the court that the CVC report has been shown to Justice A.K. Patnaik who was supervising the inquiry involving Verma on the allegation by Special Director Rakesh Asthana in his note to the Cabinet Secretary.

The top court by its October 26 order had directed that the CVC inquiry would be carried out under the supervision of former top court judge Justice Patnaik.

At the outset of the hearing, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said on Sunday (November 11), they were behind the schedule by an hour and could come with the CVC report only at 12.30p.m.

"We waited for you till 11.30 a.m. But you could not come on time. You could have informed us if you were being late." Chief Justice Gogoi told Solicitor General.

--IANS

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