Congress president Rahul Gandhi will lead the party as it stages protests outside all CBI offices across the country on Friday, demanding reinstatement of CBI Director Alok Verma, who has been sent on leave, and an apology from Prime Minister Narendra Modi for “destroying” the image of the premier investigating agency.

Gandhi tweeted that he would lead the party’s protests outside the CBI headquarters at CGO complex in the national capital.

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“Tomorrow, outside CBI offices nationwide, the Congress party will protest the PM’s disgraceful attempt to prevent an investigation into the Rafale scam, by removing the CBI Chief. I will lead the protests outside CBI HQ in Delhi, at 11 AM,” he said, using the hashtag “CBIRafaleGate”.

Join us today at 11 AM as we march from Dayal Singh College on Lodhi Road to the CBI HQ, to protest the PM’s disgraceful & unconstitutional attempt to block an investigation into the Rafale scam by removing the CBI Chief. Similar protests are being held today, across India.

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) October 26, 2018

Tomorrow, outside CBI offices nationwide, the Congress party will protest the PM’s disgraceful attempt to prevent an investigation into the Rafale scam, by removing the CBI Chief.

I will lead the protests outside CBI HQ in Delhi, at 11 AM. #CBIRafaleGate

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) October 25, 2018

Meanwhile, a bench headed by Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi will today hear the case of CBI director Alok Verma to decide if the government’s orders stripping him of his duties at the agency and appointing an interim chief in his place were in accordance with the law.

Verma had filed the writ petition under Article 32 of the Constitution of India, as per which individuals may seek redressal for any violation of their fundamental rights.

Top lawyers Fali Nariman and Sanjay Hegde will be representing Verma in the court.

Read | CBI says Alok Verma remains CBI Director, Rakesh  Asthana Special Director, Rao only interim in-charge

The government had sent Verma and Special Director Rakesh Asthana, who have accused each other of corruption, on leave on Tuesday.

It also transferred several CBI officials and appointed M Nageswar Rao as the interim chief of the agency.

Verma moved the Supreme Court Wednesday challenging the government’s decision. The apex court has agreed to hear his plea on Friday.

To protest against the ongoing CBI war, AICC General Secretary Ashok Gehlot had asked all Congress general secretaries, state unit chiefs and legislature party leaders, to hold demonstrations against the BJP government outside all CBI offices across the country.

Senior Congress leaders will participate in the protest outside the Central Bureau of Investigation headquarters in the national capital, while state leaders will lead the demonstrations in their regions, Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said.

Gehlot in his letter to all the leaders said, “An illegal, unconstitutional and illegitimate removal of the CBI director by the Modi-Shah duo has shamed India and its premier investigative agency.”

Read | CBI probe into Rafale would have finished PM Modi: Rahul Gandhi

The prime minister is experiencing ‘Rafale-o-Phobia’ and “this terror of Rafale scam has led to the demolition of the CBI,” he alleged.

“Taking strong objections to this step by the government, Congress workers will demonstrate outside CBI offices and highlight the systemic denigration of institutions like RBI, ED, CVC, EC, UPSC one after another by this BJP government,” he said.

“Our demand should be to reinstate the CBI Director. As per the law, he could be transferred only with the consent of the appointing authority (comprising Chief Justice of India, the prime minister and the leader of opposition). The prime minister should tender an apology to the nation for destroying the image of the premier investigating agency,” Gehlot said.

(With agency inputs)