CBI vs CBI Live Updates: New CBI chief to supervise all sensitive cases including Vijay Mallya, Agusta Westland

This unprecedented act of sending the top CBI bosses on leave came after the feud between the agency no. 1 Verma and no. 2 Asthana came out in public.

NEW DELHI: The internal tussle between the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) witnessed some fast-paced development on late Tuesday night which continued well until Wednesday afternoon.

M Nageshwar Rao, the current Joint Director, was appointed as the interim head of the investigative agency by the Prime Minister-led Appointments Committee of the Cabinet on late Tuesday night. Rao will personally supervise all sensitive cases including matters related to Vijay Mallya and Agusta Westland.

On Wednesday morning, CBI Director Alok Verma, Special Director Rakesh Asthana and Additional Director AK Sharma were sent on leave. This unprecedented act of sending the top CBI chiefs on leave came after the feud between the CBI no. 1 Verma and no. 2 Asthana came out in public. 

Verma has now approached the Supreme Court challenging the decision. His case will be heard on Friday, October 26.

Calling it an extraordinary situation, Union Minister Arun Jaitley Wednesday announced that a Special Investigation Team (SIT) will probe into the bribery case against Asthana. 

Later in the day, the CBI also appointed a new team to probe the bribery charges against Asthana. Several top officers in the investigative agency were also transferred during the day.

Opposition came down heavily on the internal tussle at the CBI, holding the Narendra Modi government responsible for the entire mess and denting the central probe agency's credibility. Congress chief Rahul Gandhi also raked up the Rafale angle behind the action against Verma.

Here are the latest updates of the CBI vs CBI case:

24 October 2018

17:01 IST

CBI yet again defended its decision to reconstitute the team probing the case against Rakesh Asthana. "Team probing Rakesh Asthana’s case has been reconstituted for a fair, impartial and expeditious probe. We have put available best resources in the reconstituted team. There were searches and sealing any offices are totally untrue. CBI is working normal," CBI spokesperson said.

16:37 IST

MK Stalin on Wednesday opened a new front in the attack against the central government by questioning the decision of the Prime Minister-led Appointments Committee of the Cabinet to name M Nageshwar Rao as CBI's interim chief.  "Several complaints were sent to CBI director (Alok Verma) against Nageshwar Rao and there are reports that the CBI director wanted to initiate investigations into allegations against him," he said. Read more here.

16:33 IST

CBI Director Alok Verma who has been sent on leave pending a probe, on Wednesday urged the Supreme Court to stay the order against him. He alleged that ever since Rakesh Asthana was appointed as CBI Special Director, the latter had been trying to create hindrances. "After the appointment of Rakesh Asthana IPS as Special Director, CBI despite the pendency of cases against him and the reservations in this regard expressed by the Petitioner, decisions that were crucial to the progress of certain investigations were stymied by Mr Asthana alone. Many of these concerned very sensitive cases including those monitored by this Hon'ble Court," Verma alleged in his plea to the SC. Read more here. 

15:30 IST

BSP chief Mayawati attacked the Centre saying the crisis in CBI is a great concern for the country. "Misuse of govt machinery & interference in CBI's functioning have earlier also caused disasters and ongoing disturbance at CBI is a matter of great concern for the nation. It's good that the matter that also had interference of Central government, is before the SC now," the BSP chief said.

14:58 IST

"Institutions like CBI, CVC, judiciary, Election Commission are pillars of democracy. It is really sad that the chiefs of the topmost investigation agency are accusing each other of corruption. This is a big issue for the upcoming Parliament Session," said Arvind Sawant, Shiv Sena MP.

14:55 IST

A petition has been filed in the Bombay High Court seeking setting up of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) for an investigation into Alok Verma - Rakesh Asthana bribery case. The petition also demands a retired Supreme Court judge in the SIT, reports ANI. 

Earlier in the day, FM Arun Jaitley announced that the SIT,  not functioning under either of these officers (Alok Verma - Rakesh Asthana), will be formed to probe the matter.

14:55 IST

CBI Investigating Officer AK Bassi who has been transferred to Port Blair refuses to answer questions from the media.

#WATCH: CBI Investigating Officer AK Bassi who has been transferred to Port Blair refuses to answer questions from the media. pic.twitter.com/5yAYsUpOyP

— ANI (@ANI) October 24, 2018

14:31 IST

All sensitive cases including Vijay Mallya and Agusta Westland cases will be personally supervised by new interim Central Bureau of Investigation chief Nageshwar Rao, reported ANI.

All sensitive cases including Vijay Mallya and Agusta Westland cases will be personally supervised by new interim Central Bureau of Investigation chief Nageshwar Rao. pic.twitter.com/2hjcUEh4TL

— ANI (@ANI) October 24, 2018

14:31 IST

All sensitive cases including Vijay Mallya and Agusta Westland cases will be personally supervised by new interim Central Bureau of Investigation chief Nageshwar Rao, reported ANI.

All sensitive cases including Vijay Mallya and Agusta Westland cases will be personally supervised by new interim Central Bureau of Investigation chief Nageshwar Rao. pic.twitter.com/2hjcUEh4TL

— ANI (@ANI) October 24, 2018

14:31 IST

All sensitive cases including Vijay Mallya and Agusta Westland cases will be personally supervised by new interim Central Bureau of Investigation chief Nageshwar Rao, reported ANI.

All sensitive cases including Vijay Mallya and Agusta Westland cases will be personally supervised by new interim Central Bureau of Investigation chief Nageshwar Rao. pic.twitter.com/2hjcUEh4TL

— ANI (@ANI) October 24, 2018

14:31 IST

All sensitive cases including Vijay Mallya and Agusta Westland cases will be personally supervised by new interim Central Bureau of Investigation chief Nageshwar Rao, reported ANI.

All sensitive cases including Vijay Mallya and Agusta Westland cases will be personally supervised by new interim Central Bureau of Investigation chief Nageshwar Rao. pic.twitter.com/2hjcUEh4TL

— ANI (@ANI) October 24, 2018

13:52 IST

"You must have heard the story of Rafale. During the Kargil war, the aircraft used to drop bombs on Pakistan army was developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). Modi had said make me the PM, make me the chowkidaar, and the chowkidaar bought aircraft worth 526 crore for 1600 crore," said Rahul while referring to the Rafale angle in the ongoing CBI crisis. 

13:52 IST

"You must have heard the story of Rafale. During the Kargil war, the aircraft used to drop bombs on Pakistan army was developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). Modi had said make me the PM, make me the chowkidaar, and the chowkidaar bought aircraft worth 526 crore for 1600 crore," said Rahul while referring to the Rafale angle in the ongoing CBI crisis. 

13:52 IST

"Çhowkidar (PM Modi) removed the CBI director (Alok Verma) because he was raising questions on Rafale," said Congress President Rahul Gandhi at a public rally in Jhalawar, Rajasthan. Gandhi alleged that more facts on the Rafale fighter deal and the Vijay Mallya out soon.

13:51 IST

12:32 IST

"This is an extraordinary situation. A Special Investigation Team (SIT), not functioning under either of these officers, will investigate the matter. To maintain the institutional integrity of CBI and in the interest of fairness, purely as an interim measure, they will sit out by going on leave. This is in accordance with highest standards of fairness.," said Jaitley.

12:27 IST

"Director has been accused by the Special Director. A Special Director has been accused by the CBI. Two topmost officers of CBI have been accused. Now who will investigate it? Requirements of fairness and fair play have to be there. Government can't investigate it," FM Arun Jaitley.

12:25 IST

"CBI is the largest investigative agency of the country. It is important to maintain the institutional integrity of the agency. It is a pre-condition and absolutely essential for fair investigation," says Union Minister Arun Jaitley.

12:09 IST

CBI appoints new team to probe the bribery case against Asthana. CBI Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Tarun Gauba, Superintendent of Police (SP) Satish Dagar and Joint Director V Murugesan will probe charges against CBI Special Director Rakesh Asthana, reported ANI.

12:06 IST

"PM Modi has buried the last nail in the independence of CBI. The systematic dismantling and disintegration of CBI is complete. PM's systematic attack on credibility & capacity of CBI has now ensured that its credibility is dead and buried. What PM couldn't do directly by removing the CBI director and his collegaues, he has done surreptitiously and in clandestine fashion by taking shelter behind CVC. Has CBI director been transferred because he was about to order a probe into Rafale corruption," says Randeep Surjewala, Congress.

12:03 IST

"The Modi government and the Prime Minister have conducted a political coup against the CBI. They have conducted transfer of all the officers and directors, and main objective appears to be to protect the chosen officers of the Prime Minister posted at CBI," said CPI (M) leader Sitaram Yechury.

"We don't know if CBI was investigating other issues like Rafale scam. If that was the case, it was ordered to protect the govt, PM & concerned officers. Why was the DIG investigating the charges against Asthana has been sent to 'Kala Pani' in Andaman," he added.

The Modi govt & the Prime Minister have conducted a political coup against the CBI. They have conducted transfer of all the officers & directors, & main objective appears to be to protect the chosen officers of the Prime Minister posted at CBI: Sitaram Yechury, CPI (M) pic.twitter.com/glMh1ToyBg

— ANI (@ANI) October 24, 2018

11:58 IST

A CBI spokesperson has now confirmed that no room at CBI headquarters has been sealed. Earlier, reports stated that rooms on 10th and 11th floor of CBI headquarters in New Delhi were sealed, with no one being allowed to enter inside.  

11:57 IST

11:45 IST

Amid the internal feud between the investigative agency, several top officers probing the case of Rakesh Asthana have been transferred. Deputy SP CBI AK Bassi has been transferred to Port Blair as Deputy SP, Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) and Additional SP CBI SS Gum has been transferred to Jabalpur and posted as CBI, ACB. Apart from the two, other officers probing the case against Asthana who have been transferred are CBI DIG Manish Kumar Sinha, DIG Tarun Gauba, DIG Jasbir Singh, DIG Anish Prasad, DIG KR Chaurasia, HoB Ram Gopal and SP Satish Dagar.

All transfer orders taken 'in public interest' are to followed with immediate effect.

11:44 IST

Opposition Congress launched a scathing attack on the Narendra Modi government holding it responsible for the entire mess in the CBI and denting the central probe agency's credibility.In a series of tweets, Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said the Narendra Modi Government has buried the ‘last nail' into the independence of the CBI.

11:42 IST

CBI Director Alok Verma moved Supreme Court on Wednesday morning, challenging the decision to sent him on leave. The CBI director position has fixed term of two years. Verma is scheduled to retire after four months. Read more here.

11:38 IST

M Nageshwar Rao, the current Joint Director, was been appointed as the interim head of the investigative agency. Rao's appointment order was issued by the Prime Minister-led Appointments Committee of the Cabinet on late Tuesday night.

Rao is a 1986 batch officer of Odisha cadre.

11:32 IST

For the first time in the history of Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), agency chief Alok Verma, second-in-command Special Director Rakesh Asthana and third officer in the agency's hierarchy Additional Director AK Sharma have been sent on leave on Wednesday. At least three top officers working closely with the top two feuding CBI bosses have also been sent on leave. Offices of the three officers on 10th and 11th floor of the building have been sealed with neither staff nor outsiders being allowed inside. Few officers working closely with the top bosses have also been sent on leave. 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. 

This historic move of sending the top CBI chiefs on leave came after the feud between the CBI no. 1 Verma and no. 2 Asthana came out in public. 

In an unprecedented act, 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 on Sunday. Following this, Prime Minister Narendra Modi stepped in amid the fracas between the top two officials on Monday night. 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.