Congress chief Rahul Gandhi today protested outside CBI headquarters in Delhi against the late night removal of CBI Director Alok Verma from his post. The TMC and CPI also joined the protests which have spread across other locations including Bengaluru, Jaipur and Bhopal.
These developments come after the Supreme Court ordered CVC to complete probe against CBI director Alok Verma in 14 days. Until then, CJI Ranjan Gogoi said, M Nageswara Rao as interim CBI director should perform only routine tasks and not make any major policy decisions.
All decisions taken by M Nageswara Rao from October 23 will have to be submitted in a sealed cover to the SC, ruled the bench led by CJI Ranjan Gogoi.
The top court was hearing the plea filed by CBI director Alok Verma seeking a stay on the decision of the Centre to divest him of his duties.
He has also sought a stay of the Centre's order asking him to proceed on leave and the appointment of M Nageswara Rao, a 1986 batch Odisha-cadre IPS officer, as interim CBI director.
Rahul Gandhi leads protest march to demand the reinstatement of CBI Director Alok Verma
Rahul Gandhi leading the protest. (Photo | Shekhar Yadav)
Chandigarh police use water cannon against protesters
Chandigarh: Police use water cannon at Congress workers who are protesting against the removal of CBI Director Alok Verma pic.twitter.com/SXwR3AgGRq
Congress activists are being arrested by police while they were on their way to income tax office for protest against central government in Vijayawada.
Congress workers protest against removal of CBI director, in Patna, Bhopal , Bengaluru, Jaipur, Lucknow
CBI Special Director Rakesh Asthana also moved Supreme Court
In a separate development, CBI Special Director Rakesh Asthana also moved Supreme Court challenging the decision of the Centre to divest him of his duties and sending him on leave.
After initially suggesting a 10 day inquiry, SC bench in its order gave 14 days for the CVC inquiry to be completed. Retired Supreme Court judge AK Patnaik will be in charge.
All decisions taken by M Nageswar Rao from October 23 to be submitted in sealed cover to SC
CJI Ranjan Gogoi says:
1) CVC will carry out probe in 10 days under the supervision of a judge of this court
2) M Nageswara Rao shall perform only routine tasks. He will have to submit all his decisions from October 23 to then in a sealed cover to the SC on November 12.
SC posts case for November 12
SC posts the case for Nov 12 and directs that report be given in sealed cover abou the decisions taken till date by interim Director Rao @NewIndianXpress
CBI Chief Alok Verma's pleas in Supreme Court: Solicitor General Tushar Mehta says "10 days may not be enough to complete the inquiry and opposes supervision of CVC inquiry by SC judge."
Nageswara Rao wil not take any policy decisions: SC
SC orders that Nageshwar Rao wil not take any policy decisions @NewIndianXpress
At this stage enquiry will be only to find out whether there is a prima facie case, says CJI Gogoi. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta seeks 3 weeks for CVC inquiry.
#AlokVerma: CJI Ranjan Gogoi says will examine the matter.
Gogoi J. Remarks that enquiry by CVC should be completed in ten days and should be under supervision of a Supreme Court judge. #CBIVsCBI#CBI
Hearing on CBI Chief Alok Verma's plea begins in Supreme Court. Fali Nariman who is representing him, submits, "Present case is concerned with whether his tenure of two years could be breached at any time." pic.twitter.com/iLPtOcarVj
On September 24, CBI's second-in-command Rakesh Asthana complained about interference in work against its top boss Alok Verma after the latter launched an investigation into the corruption allegation against his Asthana
Later, Asthana wrote letters to the Cabinet Secretary and Central Vigilance Commission, listing out 10 cases of alleged corruption and irregularities against the CBI Director Alok Verma
As the spat between Verma and Asthana grew, PM Narendra Modi summoned both of them
After meeting PM Modi, Alok Verma suspended his deputy, Special Director Asthana
In an unprecedented move, the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet sent both Verma and Asthana on leave
Verma was replaced by M Nageshwara Rao, a senior Joint Director
PM can hide, but truth will be revealed: Rahul Gandhi
PM can run, he can hide but in the end, truth will be revealed. Removing #CBI Director will not help. PM acted against CBI Director; it was an act out of panic: Congress President Rahul Gandhi after leaving Lodhi Colony police station in Delhi pic.twitter.com/w5QJfREUMm
After being detained for protesting at the CBI office, Congress President Rahul Gandhi has now left the Lodhi colony Police station.
Rahul Gandhi at Lodhi Colony Police Station
Delhi: Congress President Rahul Gandhi inside Lodhi Colony Police Station after being reportedly detained during #CBI protests. pic.twitter.com/l3hDq10Wv4
Congress president Rahul Gandhi and other leaders, protesting against the removal of CBI director Alok Verma, detained: RS Surjewala
Congress President Rahul Gandhi and other leaders of the Congress Party detained during the protests at the CBI Headquarters in Delhi: Congress pic.twitter.com/f4pt4XeHdY
Every institution in India is being ruined by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, says Rahul Gandhi
Jaitley welcomes SC order on CVC probe
The Supreme Court judgement is an extremely positive development which strengthens the fairness or the probe (into the CBI infighting). The government has no interest for or against any individual. The government is interested only in maintaining the professionalism, image and constitutional integrity of the CBI, says Finance Minister Arun Jaitley.
We should wait for the CVC report, says Home Minister Rajnath Singh
Congress doesn't have any people's issues to raise that is why they are taking up these non-issues. We should wait for the investigation report: Home Minister Rajnath Singh #CBIpic.twitter.com/BcFkq2nD6Q
CPI, TMC join Congress in protesting against Alok Verma's removal
Loktantrik Janata Dal leader Sharad Yadav, CPI leader D Raja and TMC's Nadimul Haque joined the Congress protest that started from outside Dayal Singh College on Lodhi Road. (Photo | Shekar Yadhav)
Congress calls Alok Verma's removal 'illegal and unconstitutional'
Protest outside CBI headquarters in New Delhi. (Photo | Shekar Yadhav)
