The government on Wednesday defended the CBI’s decision to send Director Alok Verma and Special Director Rakesh Asthana on leave stating that the action was essential for fair investigation in the matter.

Addressing the media, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said the decision to keep the two officials out of business by sending them on leave was an interim measure to maintain the institutional integrity of CBI and in the interest of fairness of probe.

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“The two senior-most officers being on leave is purely an interim measure and will return at the end of the impartial probe, subject to their innocence,” he said.

The minister added that the CBI is a premier investigative agency meant for an honest probe.

He said in accordance with the highest standards of fairness, a Special Investigating Team (SIT) not functioning under either of these officers will investigate the matter.

The two officers can only be probed by the Central Vigilance Commission and not the government, Jaitley further said.

“CVC in its yesterday’s meeting said neither these two officers (Alok Verma and Rakesh Asthana) nor any agency under their supervision can investigate charges against them. So the officers will sit out by going on leave. It’s an interim measure” Jaitley told media.

He said the CVC’s recommendation and the government’s action was intended to restore the institutional integrity and credibility of the probe agency.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley also rubbished claims of the opposition that the CBI chief was removed under political pressure.

On being asked about the Congress’ charge of Rakesh Asthana being PM Modi’s “blue-eyed boy, Arun Jaitley said, “During an investigation, red eyes or blue eyes do not matter. It is the evidence that matters”.

In an unprecedented move, the Central Bureau of Investigation sent Director Alok Verma and Special Director Rakesh Asthana on leave amid an ongoing spat between the top two officials.

Read | CBI chief Alok Verma, Asthana sent on leave; Nageshwar Rao takes over as interim chief

Hours after Verma was removed, his entire team comprising Arun Kumar Sharma, A Sai Manohar, HoZ V Murugesan and DIG Amit Kumar – probing the case against Rakesh Asthana – were transferred on Wednesday morning. Deputy SP CBI AK Bassi was also transferred and posted as Deputy SP CBI, ACB Port Blair and Additional SP CBI SS Gum was transferred and posted as CBI, ACB Jabalpur.

The transfer of officials created a huge furore among the opposition parties who accused the BJP government of conducting a political coup against the CBI.

The late-night development was termed as “illegal”, a “shoddy cover-up” and “panic move” by opposition parties.

“While the PMO is busy picking sides in the CBI battle, the only losers are the people of India – having lost another institution to the deplorable autocratic antics of the BJP govt,” the Congress posted on its Twitter handle.

CPI (M) leader Sitaram Yechury said the “illegal” removal of CBI chief Alok Verma by the Modi government was to protect their own handpicked officer, against whom serious charges of corruption are being investigated.

The illegal removal of CBI Chief by Modi government to protect their own handpicked officer, against whom serious charges of corruption are being investigated, points to attempts at a serious cover-up to protect his direct links to the BJP’s top political leadership. https://t.co/A6BM8RY5Ao

— Sitaram Yechury (@SitaramYechury) October 24, 2018

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also termed the events as “unfortunate”.

CBI has now become so called BBI ( BJP Bureau of Investigation ) – very unfortunate!

— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) October 24, 2018

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal also attacked the government and wondered if there was a “co-relation between the Rafale deal and removal of Alok Verma”.

What are the reasons for sending CBI director on leave? Under which law did the Modi govt get the authority to initiate action against the chief of an investigating agency appointed as per the Lokpal Act ? What is Modi govt trying to hide ?

— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) October 24, 2018

Joint Director M Nageshwara Rao has been given the charge of the director with immediate effect.

The decision was taken by the prime minister-led appointments committee on Tuesday night.