Huge icebergs float on the water in oceans, but only a 1/10th tip of the iceberg is seen over the water surface. The rest remains hidden under the waters. This phrase is often used while teaching journalism. It is said that like iceberg, the truth is generally hidden under the waters.
The shape and size of the underwater iceberg is never seen. Often journalists, in their bid to find truth, falter here and thus fail to find the truth. How true, when it comes to finding the truth in the unprecedented big fight in the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) between chief Alok Verma and his deputy Rakesh Asthana!
Over a week has passed after the ugly spat between the two top sleuths came to surface and it is now hardly a secret that the CBI, which the Supreme Court had described as a “caged parrot”, worked hard to carry out the bidding of the political master of the day. But the new take-no-prisoners approach of the CBI versus CBI war with a raid and arrest in the headquarters has ripped off even the last fig leaf. After speaking to several experts and officials, I realised that the consensus is that the CBI can no longer claim any credibility. This state of facts is the most unfortunate stage of our national system.
A veteran journalist and former minister, Arun Shourie, believes, “this is a good fight, anything happens anywhere in the country (like the heinous rape and murder in Kathua), everyone always ends up demanding, ‘This should be investigated by the CBI.’ We are now getting a glimpse into what the real nature and condition of the CBI is.” Shourie’s words are echoed by senior officials within the CBI who talk of a “contagion spreading” as sensitive cases are reduced to targeted witch hunts for political reasons.
Shock to political community
Former special director in the Intelligence Bureau, Arun Chowdhary, opined, “the going-ons in the CBI have shocked the entire police community. It is apparent that even in the most sensitive organisations, selections are being made on criteria other than merit.”
A keen eye on what the political leadership wants and pliability is the main reason for senior appointments in the investigative agencies. This has ensured that all investigations are compromised. It was always present, but now it is brazen. The unprecedented attack has pitted Alok Verma, the CBI chief, against Rakesh Asthana, a Modi-Shah favourite. Both men say the other is guilty of accepting crores of bribes from those being investigated by the CBI. Asthana has been named accused No 1 in a corruption case by the CBI; the Delhi High Court has said he cannot be arrested till the 29th (today) when it will next hear the case.
Shourie states, “The origin of this episode lies in the attempt by the prime minister to thrust one of his men (CBI No 2 Rakesh Asthana) into the organisation in spite of the fact that he was under examination by the CBI itself for all sorts of things. He adds: “The facts were brought to the attention of the CVC. They were brought to the attention of the Supreme Court. Both refused to examine them the way they should have been examined, and allowed the officer to be thrust into the CBI. A huge lesson there”.
The appointment of Asthana to the CBI in October, 2017 was challenged in the Supreme Court by lawyer-activist Prashant Bhushan who alleged he was under suspicion in a case being investigated by the agency. Bhushan is vehement in accusing Modi of only eager to appoint a pliable officer who could be used to for political vendetta as the CBI chief. Even the UPA government wanted the same but it is for the first time in the history of India that this government made such a brazen move to appoint a tainted man. Bhushan claims that Asthana had a mandate to ensure that cases involving BJP leaders such as Vyapam, which Asthana handled, reached no conclusion but cases involving opposition leaders and critical media houses are kept as a handy stick.”
Beginning of open war
CBI chief Alok Verma, on the other hand, had made his unhappiness clear. In a note marked “secret” and sent to the government in July this year, made the point “names of officers who were being considered for induction in CBI were under examination by CBI as suspects/accused in criminal cases under investigation with this bureau.” The objection was to Rakesh Asthana attending a CBI committee meeting to consider inducting new officers, which also took a clear swipe at Asthana.
This signalled the beginning of open war between Alok Verma and the Modi government as Verma asserted the authority given to the director of CBI under Central Vigilance Commission Act 2003. Keeping with the Modi government’s obsession with social media, a video has surfaced which compares Asthana to Sardar Patel and hawks his wastes. Like the controversy, nothing subtle about it. There was a a popular Hollywood film, Tremor vs Termor. On the similar lines, now, this is the CBI verses CBI mud-slinging bout. It has, by now, reached such a level that has started blackening faces of many.
Bharatkumar Raut is a political analyst and former Member of Parliament (RS).
