CBI chief Alok Verma, Special Director Rakesh Asthana sent on leave, Nageshwar Rao named interim head

Amid the internal tussle between CBI no.1 Alok Verma and no.2 Rakesh Asthana, Joint Director M Nageshwar Rao appointed as the interim chief of the investigative agency.

NEW DELHI: For the first time in the history of Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), agency chief Alok Verma, second-in-command Rakesh Asthana and third officer in the agency's hierarchy AK Sharma have been sent on leave on Wednesday. M Nageshwar Rao, the current Joint Director, has been appointed as the interim head of the investigative agency.

Offices of the feuding CBI Director Verma and Special Director Asthana and Additional Director Sharma have been sealed with neither staff nor outsiders being allowed inside.

At least three top officers working closely with the top two feuding CBI bosses have also been sent on leave.

Rao's appointment order was issued by the Prime Minister-led Appointments Committee of the Cabinet on late Tuesday night.

There will be no movement of officials or files at CBI Director's office and Special Director's office till 2 pm Wednesday, sources at the agency said. 

The new CBI director, Rao, is a 1986 batch officer of Odisha cadre.

In an unprecedented move, the investigative agency booked its second-in-command Asthana, who's in an open feud with chief Verma, for alleged bribery in a case involving meat exporter Moin Qureshi. 

Late on Monday night,  Prime Minister Narendra Modi stepped in amid the fracas between the top two officials. PMO summoned Verma and Asthana in an apparent bid to put a lid on the open war between the two officials who have levelled bribery allegations against each other.

According to sources, the move to send the feuding CBI top bosses was recommended by Chief Vigilance Commissioner and the PMO agreed with it.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Devender Kumar was also arrested by the agency for allegedly taking bribe and falsification of records on Monday.

The war within the CBI reached the courtroom on Tuesday with both Kumar and Asthana approaching the Delhi High Court seeking quashing of the FIRs against them.

After Asthana approached the court, a single judge bench directed the CBI to maintain status quo on the criminal proceedings initiated against him till October 29, the next date of hearing, but clarified there was no stay on the ongoing probe considering the nature and gravity of the case.

The HC directed the CBI to maintain status quo on the criminal proceedings.