CBI director removed because PM feared action in Rafale scam: Cong

CBI director Alok Verma was removed overnight without the approval of the selection committee because Prime Minister Narendra Modi feared that the top officer might take steps that could "hurt" him in the Rafale "scam", the Congress alleged Wednesday.

Talking to reporters here, Congress's chief spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala said the prime minister's "desperate bid" to cover up the Rafale "scam" had pushed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into complete "disintegration".

He claimed that the government "panicked" because Verma was likely to file an FIR in connection with the Rafale issue, based on complaints received by the probe agency.

Surjewala also sought an "explanation" from the prime minister over the overnight removal of the CBI director.

There was no immediate reaction from the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) on the allegations.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has, however, dismissed as "rubbish" the allegations that Verma was removed because he wanted to look into the Rafale fighter jet deal.

In an unprecedented fallout of a raging feud between Verma and CBI Special Director Rakesh Asthana, who is facing bribery and extortion charges, both the top officers were stripped of their powers and sent on leave.

Surjewala said, "The removal of CBI director Alok Verma was illegal and unconstitutional. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was petrified that the number one in the CBI (Verma) was about to take steps that might have hurt him in the Rafale scam. The government panicked because Verma was likely to file an FIR in the Rafale issue, based on complaints received by the investigating agency."
He asked the government to clarify if the new interim chief of the CBI, Nageshwar Rao, was "under a cloud", adding, "Doesn't this fact demolish the government's argument of cleaning the system?"