Alok Verma vs Rakesh Asthana: A timeline of 'faction feud' within CBI
India's top investigating agency's 'faction feud' has become a matter of enquiry in the alleys of the top court. The Central Vigilance Commission today submitted its version of inquiry into the long-drawn battle between CBI Director Alok Verma and his deputy Rakesh Asthana to the Supreme Court today.
The hearing assumed significance as Verma has been appearing before the three-member CVC headed by KV Chowdary and is understood to have given point-wise refusal to all the allegations levelled against him by his deputy. Asthana himself is under investigation by Verma for accepting bribe for clean chit to a businessman in Moin Quresi case.
Both Verma and Asthana have been at loggerheads since the latter joined the agency's number two spot last year. Here's what happened in past year which led to this 'unprecedented and grave' situation in India's apex investigating agency.
Alok Verma vs Rakesh Asthana: Story so far
The timeline
October, 2017: The feud begins
According to reports, the tussle between Alok Verma and Rakesh Asthan started a year ago in October when CBI director Verma raised objection to Asthana's appointment as Special Director in front of a five-member panel led by CVC.
Clean chit to Asthana
Verma reportedly alleged that Asthana's involvement in the Sterling Biotech scam had tainted CBI's name. But the panel dismissed the charge and decided to promote Asthana to the post of special director. Later Supreme Court also gave him a clean chit in the case.
Asthan attends CVC meeting
On July 12 this year, when Alok Verma was abroad, CVC invited Asthana to a meeting about promotions in the investigating agency. On this, Verma wrote to CVC that he had not authorised Asthana to represent him in meetings.
Asthana accuses Verma
On August 24, Asthana wrote a letter to CVC and Cabinet Secretary, wherein he accused Verma and his close aide additional director NK Sharma of corruption, reports said. He also alleged that the two had tried to save the accused in an ongoing investigation. He alleged that Hyderabad-based businessman Sathish Sana had paid Rs 2 crore to Verma for a clean chit in the Moin Qureshi case.
Asthana gives clarification to CVC
In another letter to CVC and Cabinet Secretary in September, Asthana said that he wanted to arrest Sana last month but Verma rejected the proposal. He also reportedly alleged when his team tried to interrogate Sana in February Verma had intervened and stopped them from going ahead.
Reshuffle in Asthana's staff
Meanwhile, Verma took important cases being investigated by Asthana and handed them over to AK Sharma. This included matters related to Delhi Government, IRCTC scam, P Chidamabarama and others. Asthana's staff was also reshuffled.
Allegations against Asthana by businessman
On October 4, CBI detained Sana and he was produced before magistrate for a statement. Sana claimed that he has paid Rs 3 crore to Asthana in the last 10 months. On October 15, CBI filed an FIR against Asthana for alleged corruption in Moin Qureshi case.
Both senior officials divested
On October 23, the Delhi High Court directed CBI to maintain the status quo in the case against Rakesh Asthana and a trial court sent mid-level CBI officer Devender Kumar to seven-day CBI remand. Kumar was also name din the FIR filed against Asthana by CBI on October 15.
October 24: In an overnight decision, on the basis of a recommendation by the CVC, the government removed both Alok Verma and Rakesh Asthana from their posts. The government claimed that ousted CBI Director was not cooperating with the CVC and defended its decision to send him on leave, saying that an "extra-ordinary and unprecedented" situation had arisen due to "grave allegations of corruption" against senior functionaries of the agency.
Supreme Court appoints ex-judge to supervise CVC inquiry
On October 26, the apex court appointed former SC judge AK Patnaik to supervise the ongoing inquiry of CVC against Verma. Besides issuing notices to the Centre and the CVC on the plea of Verma, the apex court, also set a deadline of two weeks for the CVC to complete the preliminary inquiry against the CBI director. It also barred IPS officer M Nageswara Rao, who has been given interim charge of the CBI, from taking any major decision.
Verma, Asthana play blame game before CVC
On November 9, Verma and his deputy Asthana on Friday blamed each other for corruption while defending themselves as they deposed before CVC panel. Alok Verma met with CVC delegation and gave a point-by-point refusal to allegations levied against him. Asthana, who reached the CVC headquarters after Verma left, reiterated the corruption allegations against Verma in his 40-minute deposition and denied involvement in any bribery case.
Expected in court today
CVC is expected to present findings of its report before the apex court. The court is also due to review decisions taken by by interim CBI director Rao since October 23, including transfer of investigations and change of investigating officers and may pass some appropriate orders on them.
