Mayawati expresses concern over developments in CBI

Bahujan Samaj Party supremo Mayawati on Wednesday expressed concern over the developments in the Central Bureau of Investigation, where reciprocal accusations forced the government to send the top two officers of the agency on "leave".

In a statement, the former Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh said that while the premier probe agency has always been suspected to be misused by the government of the day, the recent developments have "shaken the faith of people in CBI".

The government on Wednesday virtually sacked CBI Director Alok Verma, as the fight between him and the agency's number 2 officer Special Director Rakesh Asthana escalated.

Verma has approached the Supreme Court. The court on Wednesday said it would hear Verma's plea challenging the Centre's order asking him to proceed on leave on October 26.

Mayawati welcomed the fact that the matter was before the SC.

She said that the controversy is an opportunity for the apex court to not only scrutinize the internal working of the CBI but also address the functioning of the Central Vigilance Commission.

Verma has two more months as the Central Bureau of Investigation chief and cannot be removed formally. The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet, which took the decision on Verma, also asked Joint Director M. Nageshwar Rao to "look after the duties and functions of the CBI Director".

--IANS

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