A demolition drive at the Manikarnika Ghat was met with protests from locals, who alleged that the city's heritage was being destroyed in the name of redevelopment, a charge rejected by the district administration.
'Alok Verma can say he was helpless, but he could have made representations to the CVC, the Chief Justice of India or the prime minister in writing.' 'He could have told them that his number 2 was not cooperating and is corrupt, but he did not do that.' 'He acted arbitrarily and in a hurried manner, overnight.'
He has been removed from the high-profile post on the charges of corruption and dereliction of duty making him the first chief in the history of the agency to face such action.
India's premier investigating agency, the Central Bureau of Investigation, is witnessing an unprecedented crisis since the last few weeks. At the heart of the crisis is the struggle between its two top bosses -- Alok Verma and Rakesh Asthana. As the case continues to play out in the public with allegations being countered with more allegations, here's all you need to know about the feud and its various twists and turns.
Earlier, on behalf of Uday Shankar Srivastava, former director of Border Roads Organisation -- a rank equivalent to that of a colonel in the army -- lawyer Vivek Tiwari had filed a defamation complaint against Gandhi.
Rahul Gandhi, the leader of India's opposition party, was fined Rs 200 for skipping a court appearance in a defamation case related to his comments about freedom fighter Vinayak Damodar Savarkar. The case stems from Gandhi's remarks during his Bharat Jodo Yatra in 2022, where he allegedly made derogatory comments about Savarkar. The court has scheduled the next hearing for April 14.
The move came after a high powered selection committee comprising Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Justice A K Sikri and leader of Congress in Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge, in a split verdict, decided to transfer him 21 days ahead of the completion of his tenure.
In the absence of any clear definition of 'major policy' decisions, the grey area exists as to what extent Verma's powers will be limited.
To bring the perspective of the Central Vigilance Commission order recommending the divesting of powers of Verma and Asthana, Joint Director M Nageshwar Rao has been given the charge to look after the duties and functions of the Director as an interim arrangement, a CBI spokesperson said.
Verma came to the CVC office in the late afternoon and stayed there for about two hours, they said.
"Actions of the government indicate that it's scared of a CBI headed by an independent director," the Congress leader wrote in his letter to PM Modi.
The CVC report spoke about the controversial meat exporter Moin Qureshi's case and claimed that CBI team looking into the case wanted to make Hyderabad-based businessman Sathish Babu Sana an accused in the case but Verma never gave clearance.
The apex court said that he won't be allowed to take any major policy decision till the high-powered committee considers the issue of "divestment of power and authority".
Justice Sikri, the second senior-most judge in the apex court after Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi, was part of the three-member panel along with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and senior Congress leader Mallikajurn Kharge which decided on removal of Alok Verma from the post of Central Bureau of Investigation director.
In a letter sent to Verma Wednesday, the MHA said, "You are directed to join the post of DG, Fire Services, Civil Defence & Home Guards immediately" which was seen as rejection of his letter
The 'essence' of every government action must be in the interest of the institution, the SC said.
The CBI chief's advocate said there was no basis for the Central Vigilance Commission to pass such an order recommending to send him on leave.
The apex court agreed to hear on October 26 the petition by Verma challenging the government's decision. He has said in the petition that the CBI should be kept independent of the Department of Personnel and Training, which has jurisdiction over the probe agency, since it seriously hinders the CBI's independent functioning.
He has also sought stay of the Centre's order asking him to proceed on leave and giving the interim charge of his post to Joint Director M Nageswara Rao, a 1986 batch Odisha-cadre IPS officer.
'The selection process of the CBI chief has not been appropriate.' 'Three successive CBI directors have been found in corrupt moral practices.' 'A thorough investigation needs to be done before appointing anyone to such a post.'
MHA said the four men were on 'routine, covert' duties in the high security area.
'Forget Asthana. Forget Alok Verma. It is this government that has done the greatest damage.' 'My biggest worry is that they have made the CBI a puppet of the government.' 'They want the CBI director to act as per the wishes of the government.'
He takes over the CBI in challenging times. The perception is that the agency is reduced to being an instrument of blackmail and intimidation by successive governments.
The appointment came just days before his retirement on July 31.
The sources said the government had proposed the meeting on January 21 earlier while Kharge wanted the meeting on January 24 or 25.
The CBI action comes after the second in command in the CBI, wrote to Cabinet Secretary alleging that the businessman had paid CBI Director Alok Verma Rs 2 crore to get relief in the case.
The panel's meet held on Wednesday remained inconclusive, they said, without giving further details.
"Kharge dissents regularly," the minister said.
Jaitley told reporters that allegations by the top two officers of the country's premier investigation agency led to a 'bizarre and unfortunate' situation.
Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel headed state government has written to the Union home ministry and the ministry of rersonnel asking them to direct the CBI not to register fresh cases in the state, the officials said citing an official statement.
Asthana is the 27th chief of the force and is expected to hold office till July next year, his scheduled date for retirement from service.
The top cop said it is a 'misunderstanding' that the Delhi Police works under political pressure.
'These officers should have sat together and sorted things out.' 'And if things were not working out amicably then the other organisations which control the CBI -- be it the CVC or the prime minister's office or even the home ministry -- someone should have gone ahead and solved these problems rather than reducing it to this farcical situation.'
A bench headed by Chief Justice S A Bobde questioned as to why Bassi has not joined his service at Port Blair, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, as per the transfer order.
Alok Verma, the 1979-batch IPS officer, will be in the hot seat because he will serve in 2018 and into 2019, the year of the general election.
Alok Verma, a facilitator with Focus Adventure, a leading team building provider in India tells us why there's more to communication than merely talking and listening.
Breaking his silence, the ousted CBI chief said that he was transferred on the basis of allegations made by only one person, who was inimical to him.
Gandhi has been repeatedly using the "chowkidaar" jibe to attack Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
'The government made a mess.' 'When there is a director, how can you have an in-charge director?' 'Then, they shifted all the 14 officers who were working on the Asthana case which has never happened in the history of the CBI.'
M Nageswar Rao, who took over the duties and functions of CBI director late on Tuesday night, appointed Satish Dagar as superintendent of police to probe the case, they said.
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