NEW DELHI: Verma had on Monday filed his response in the top court on the findings of the CVC into corruption allegations against him. The court had declined Verma’s request to adjourn Tuesday’s hearing.
CBI director Alok Verma and his deputy, special director Rakesh Asthana, have both accused each other of being corrupt.
The Alok Verma-Rakesh Asthana feud was earning the government (and the CBI, of course) bad press. So, both of them were sent on forced leave, literally overnight. M Nageshwar Rao took over as interim director.
A bench comprising Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justices S K Kaul and K M Joseph handed over to senior advocate Fali S Nariman, appearing for Verma, the copy of a report by a news portal, which has published the CBI director’s response.
Earlier in the day, the alleged leak of Verma’s confidential response to the Central Vigilance Commission’s findings on corruption charges against him irked the top court, which said none of “you deserve any hearing”.
Meanwhile, the CJI Ranjan Gogoi-led bench directed its ire towards another CBI officer –a deputy inspector general-rank officer Manish Prasad Sinha.
Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi demanded to know how certain confidential information regarding the CBI case that is being heard by the Supreme Court had been reported in the media.
The senior lawyer said the news portal and its journalists concerned be summoned as the press should be free and responsible.
Alok Verma’s lawyer Fali S Nariman has sought more time from the Supreme Court to clarify the alleged leakage of his client Alok Verma’s response which were to be submitted confidentially in court.
