New Delhi: The Congress on Saturday jumped over retired Supreme Court Judge AK Patnaik’s categorical interview that “there was no evidence against (CBI chief) Alok Verma regarding corruption” and the decision of his removal was “very, very hasty,” noting that Verma”s case is proving to be yet another Rafale of Prime Minister Modi in which new facts are tumbling out every other day to sting him. Justice Patnaik was asked by the Supreme Court to monitor the inquiry it had ordered to be conducted by the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) against Verma in October. In the interview, he stressed that “what the CVC says cannot be the final word” as the high-powered committee should have applied their mind thoroughly, “especially as a Supreme Court judge (Justice AK Sikri) was there.
Congress spokesman Abhishek Manu Singhvi told a press conference here Justice Patnaik’s remarks warrants him to demand that the high-powered committee headed by PM Modi should be immediately summoned to reconsider its decision to remove Verma from the CBI. His three other demands are:
• Immediately reinstate Verma as CBI chief;
• His tenure be extended by 77 days that he lost from his 2-year fixed term due to the forced leave struck down by the Supreme Court; and
• The high powered committee must itself examine all the charges levelled on Verma and not allow the CVC to proceed further with the inquiry as it the leak of the CVC starting the probe amounts to defame Verma.
Singhvi said the way Verma was removed from the post in a midnight drama on Octobter 23 and again attempt by the Prime Minister on Wednesday night to oust him instantaneously compels him to ask: “Was it that the CBI Director was deep into the investigative stage of Rafale? Was it that he had evidence, witnesses, documents which would nail the multiple lies of this Government, the Prime Minister, the Ruling Party”s President?”
Meanwhile, Senior Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday termed as a ‘mistake’ the removal of Alok Verma as CBI director and accused the government of “destroying” the premier investigating agency. Kharge, who is a member of the Selection Committee headed by the prime minister which shunted out Verma from CBI, said he was not given a chance to present his side. Kharge had submitted a dissent note before the committee questioning the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) findings against Verma. Also, the Congress on Saturday demanded reinstatement of CBI Chief Alok Verma, terming his ouster from the investigating agency by the Prime Minister-led selection committee, a negation of “natural justice” and a decision taken to derail the Rafale probe.
