NEW DELHI:
Alok Verma, reinstated as CBI boss by the Supreme Court barely 48 hours ago, was shunted out this evening by a high-powered committee led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Over the last 24 hours, Mr Verma had cancelled the transfers of 10 officers and transferred five others.
While scrapping the government’s October order sending Mr Verma on compulsory leave, the top court had ruled that he would not take any policy decision till a committee comprising the Prime Minister, the Chief Justice of India and the leader of the largest opposition party, took a call on his status.
The three-member committee, which includes Justice AK Sikri, besides PM Modi and Congress’s Mallikarjun Kharge – was expected to decide whether the official, whose term ends on January 31, will continue in the post with full powers. They were also expected to pick his successor.
Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi had dropped out of the high-powered selection panel because he was in the Supreme Court bench that reinstated him as CBI director. The Chief Justice has nominated Justice AK Sikri for the meeting of the panel.
