CBI Director Alok Verma on Wednesday moved the Supreme Court challenging the probe agency’s decision to send him and his deputy Rakesh Asthana on leave amid an ongoing spat between the top two officials.
The CBI chief’s petition was accepted by the Supreme Court and is likely to be heard on October 26.
In an unprecedented step, the Central Board of Investigation sent CBI Director Alok Verma, Special Director Rakesh Asthana and a few others agency officials on leave. Joint Director M Nageshwara Rao was given the charge of the director with immediate effect.
The decision was taken by the prime minister-led appointments committee on Tuesday night.
Read | CBI chief Alok Verma, Asthana sent on leave; Nageshwar Rao takes over as interim chief
The decision to appoint Rao came a day after Special Director Rakesh Asthana moved the Delhi High Court seeking the quashing of FIR filed against him by the CBI in connection with an alleged bribery case.
The CBI had filed an FIR against Asthana for allegedly accepting a bribe from a businessman, who was related to Moin Akhtar Qureshi case.
Interestingly, before being named in the alleged case of bribery, Asthana had filed a complaint against CBI Director Alok Verma accusing him of corruption and irregularities in 10 cases.
Read | Special Director Rakesh Asthana’s aide arrested; PM summons CBI chief, deputy
On Tuesday, the CBI suspended its DSP and an aide of Asthana, Devender Kumar, who was arrested on Monday on the charge of falsification of records while probing allegations against meat exporter Moin Qureshi.