Verma transfers more CBI officers

Restored as CBI Director, Alok Verma continued with transfers of officers shifting five more on Thursday including two Joint Directors, one Assistant Director and two Deputy Inspector Generals (DIG).

Those transferred included Joint Directors Ajay Bhatnagar and V. Murugesan, DIGs M.K. Sinha and Tarun Gauba and Assistant Director A.K. Sharma.

'Bhatnagar has been given additional chare of training in spite of his current responsibility of MDMA and NE departments while Murugesan, who is holding charge of AC 2, will also supervise AC 3. Additional Director Sharma will supervise AC 1 division. Sinha has been given charge of AC 1 division along with the responsibility of BS&FC unit while Gauba, who is in Anti Corruption Branch (ACB) Chandigarh, has been given additional charge of AC 3.

'Murugesan and Gauba are to supervise the probe against Special Director Rakesh Asthana instead of A.K. Sharma and M.K. Sinha,' said sources in the agency.

The CBI has registered a case against Asthana for alleged involvement in corruption.

The transfers came a day after Verma took over as CBI chief after the apex court order but with limited powers. Hours after resuming office, he revoked most transfer orders issued by agency's interim chief M. Nageswara Rao.

The Supreme Court reinstated Verma as the agency chief on Tuesday, setting aside the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) and the Centre's decision to divest him of his powers to function as its head but with a caveat that he will not take any policy decision till a high-level committee goes into the issue afresh.

While reinstating Verma, the top court also junked the Centre's order appointing Rao as the interim Director.

According to a senior official, Verma can still file FIRs and sign on the transfer orders as Rao also discharged these duties after being ordered by the apex court not to take any major policy decision.

--IANS

rak/vsc/mr