Government appoints Nageshwar Rao as interim CBI chief


New Delhi, Oct 24(TNN): In the midst of internal fight between CBI director Alok Verma and special director Rakesh Asthana, the government on Wednesday stepped in and appointed M Nageshwar Rao as interim chief of the investigating agency "with immediate effect".

Both Alok Verma and Rakesh Asthana have been sent on leave. The Prime Minister-led appointments committee in an order on Tuesday night has given charge of director to Joint Director M Nageshwara Rao with immediate effect, a government order said.

The order implies that the government has sidelined all the three additional directors number three in the agency's hierarchy, including A K Sharma, whose name had figured in the complaint by Asthana.

Both CBI director Alok Verma and special director Rakesh Asthana have been "divested of all powers", sources said, calling it the first such case in the history of the agency.

Nageshwar Rao, IPS, was working as joint director in the agency. He will look after duties and functions of director CBI and shall take over the duties and functions with immediate effect.

According to top government officials, the whole action pertaining to removing CBI director Alok Verma and special director Rakesh Asthana has been taken after the Chief Vigilance Commission (CVC), which has got complaints of corruption against Verma, felt that as long as these two stay in the agency, there can't be fair probe on charges against them.

The government's action comes a day after high-voltage drama involving director Alok Verma and special director Rakesh Asthana in the Delhi high court.

On Tuesday, the Delhi high court directed the CBI to maintain status quo on the criminal proceedings initiated against the agency's special director Rakesh Asthana and a trial court sent an arrested mid-level officer facing bribery charges to seven-day remand, as the unprecedented internecine battle between the two top officers of the CBI entered the judicial arena.

During the court hearing, the CBI also submitted that charges of extortion and forgery were added against Asthana and Devender Singh, a Deputy Superintendent police of CBI who was arrested on Monday by the agency for allegedly taking bribe and falsification of records.

After Asthana approached the Delhi High Court seeking quashing of the agency's FIR against him, 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.

  

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Comment on this article

  • anthony, Mangalore

    Wed, Oct 24 2018

    The CBI has been reduced to small town police thana with the serious charges being levelled at the top leadership by the agency's top most officials. Total loss of faith and credibility.

    Asthana is a gujarat cadre officer and so swift action taken to protect him.

    DisAgree Agree [1] Reply Report Abuse

  • Anand Kumar, Mangga Gala Uru

    Wed, Oct 24 2018

    If this is the case with CBI, the EC (Election Commission cannot be free from meddling by this government. This is obvious. Time will tell.

    DisAgree Agree [1] Reply Report Abuse

  • Satya, Mangalore

    Wed, Oct 24 2018

    CBI now is the Modi Shah private company.

    DisAgree Agree [2] Reply Report Abuse

  • N.M, Mangalore

    Wed, Oct 24 2018

    CBI has been reduced to a joke India...It's been viewed as Modi's lapdog just like Times Now, Republic, Chee News.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [5] Reply Report Abuse

  • Mangaluru Mohammed, Mangaluru

    Wed, Oct 24 2018

    First time in 70 Years..

    DisAgree Agree [7] Reply Report Abuse

  • Flavian, Mangaluru/Kuwait

    Wed, Oct 24 2018

    Countries disintegration is in the process.
    I had a strong feeling that IT is a puppet and acting on orders or instructions from Modi. That is why not a single BJP members or politicians were targeted ever since BJP came to power. Those who were raided all were from Congress team or members.
    I heard some experts debating in NDTV on this CBI episode. Such infight CBI vs. CBI is the first ever since India got independence from British rule.
    Misusing power of power ?

    DisAgree [2] Agree [7] Reply Report Abuse

  • N.M, Mangalore

    Wed, Oct 24 2018

    Central BJP Intruders (CBI) have virtually taken over Caged Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to save Corrupt Brokers of India (CBI) through it’s Criminal Barter Interrogation (CBI) by its Crooked Bureaucrats of Incompetence (CBI).

    DisAgree [2] Agree [8] Reply Report Abuse

  • Moshu, Mangaluru

    Wed, Oct 24 2018

    Democracy falls under threat eversince BJP came to power in 2014. Atmosphere of fear has been been generated in top judiciaries, Press, NIA, CBI, top Police Force and even in Indian Army aswell.

    DisAgree [2] Agree [16] Reply Report Abuse

  • peddu, Mangalore

    Wed, Oct 24 2018

    The way things are unfolding by sacking / suspending the CBI officers it looks like Feku Govt is trying its best to create more jobs in the Election Season... Sanghi's have a good chance to take over the CBI ...

    DisAgree [4] Agree [11] Reply Report Abuse

  • Jack, Mangalore

    Wed, Oct 24 2018

    Please caption as Modi appoints Nageshwar Rao as interim CBI chief and not Govt.

    Such quick action by PMO not even done for rapes or deaths of people.

    DisAgree [4] Agree [17] Reply Report Abuse

  • Jossey Saldanha, Mumbai

    Wed, Oct 24 2018

    After Six Months everything will Change ...

    DisAgree [4] Agree [14] Reply Report Abuse

  • HENRY MISQUITH, Bahrain

    Wed, Oct 24 2018

    Once you fall from the pedastal everybody will stamp on you, Rakesh Asthana case.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [10] Reply Report Abuse

  • Satya, Mangalore

    Wed, Oct 24 2018

    In the US the FBI is respected feared and revered by everyone including ruling party or the opposition. From the President to the last citizen fears this agency. In India it is the exact opposite. The CBI is just a tool for political vengeance used by the ruling party. We Have a Director and Joint Directors. What therefore is the need to appoint Special Directors, that too those are hand picked by the political bosses and given extraordinary powers. Today the CBI is a universal joke when even a small kid pokes fun at it. Does the country require such a maligned agency? For a premium investigation agency to be respected, it should be totally cut off from political interference, the appointment of senior officers and the oversee of the agency should be given to a joint panel which will include members from the Supreme court, and/or citizens of repute from civil society selected/chosen/appointed jointly by ruling and opposition parties in Parliament. Just one two or three people should not have a say in its functioning. Only then will we have a transparent and impartial agency which will be respected.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [10] Reply Report Abuse

  • LIONEL, MANGALORE

    Wed, Oct 24 2018

    AFTER 2014 EVERYWHERE CORRUPTION AND FRAUD...….GOVT ITSELF IS INVOLVED IN ALL OF THESE, SO THE OFFICIALS JUST FOLLOW THEM.....

    DisAgree [7] Agree [10] Reply Report Abuse

  • Vincent Rodrigues, Katapadi/Bangalore

    Wed, Oct 24 2018

    New appointment is nothing but cover up than taking proper steps to make CBI a corruption free investigating agency

    DisAgree [3] Agree [14] Reply Report Abuse


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