Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge, who was part of the high-powered select committee headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, did not want Alok Verma to be transferred from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Thursday, January 10.
Kharge told the panel that the Central Vigilance Commissioner (CVC) report filed with the Supreme Court under sealed cover does not arrive at any conclusive or substantial findings with respect to the allegations made against Verma. The Congress leader also demanded an independent investigation to check the facts.
“This committee must order an independent investigation into the veracity of these facts. If these facts are correct, it would establish the conspiracy at the highest level of the government with statutory authorities being found complicit,” said Kharge. He added, “This itself would point to the fact that the entire exercise was in furtherance of a premeditated decision to remove Shri Alok Verma as CBI director, with reasons and processes being manufactured as an afterthought.”
Kharge also said that it is imperative for the panel to restore Verma “the full powers” enjoyed by the office of the CBI Director, extend his tenure for an additional period of 77 days — “the number of days lost by him on account of the patently illegal orders of CVC and DoPT dated October 23, 2018” — and suggested the panel to initiate an independent investigation to verify the actual events that took place on the night of October 23-24, 2018 when Verma was removed from the position of CBI director by Modi government.
Also read: CVC Report On Alok Verma Based On False Report: Subramanian Swamy