New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday reinstated Alok Verma as the director of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), quashing the Central government’s decision to divest his power as the chief of the probe agency.
However, the apex court said, the committee constituted under the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act will have to consider the matter afresh and that Verma cannot take any major policy decisions until then.
The top court also said that any further decision against Verma would be taken by the high-powered committee which selects and appoints CBI director. In addition, it also set aside the appointment of M. Nageswara Rao as interim chief of the central agency.
A three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi pronounced the verdict after hearing Verma’s petition against the Centre’s move to divest him as the chief of the probe agency. The bench had reserved its verdict in the matter on December 6, 2018.
Alok Verma and his deputy Rakesh Asthana were both sent on leave in October, 2018 after the infighting between two became public.
On October 23, 2018, Verma and Asthana were asked by the government to proceed on leave after both accused each other of corruption and interference in investigations.
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Ms Kalinga