The Congress on Friday held nationwide protests — with party President Rahul Gandhi courting arrest — against the BJP government’s “conspiracy” to stall a CBI probe into the Rafale deal. Other Opposition parties took to the streets along with the Congress.

Rahul and the other arrested party workers were taken to a nearby police station, where they were detained for 30 minutes before being let off.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court heard matters related to the CBI and directed the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) to complete within two weeks its inquiry into allegations against agency Director Alok Kumar Verma.

It further said the CVC inquiry against Verma will be conducted under the supervision of former Supreme Court judge AK Patnaik.

A Bench of Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and KM Joseph curtailed the powers of CBI’s newly appointed interim Director M Nageswara Rao, saying he may do routine work to keep the agency going, but not take any major policy decisions. Additionally, the decisions taken by him since October 23 till date shall not be implemented, the court said. All his decisions shall be placed before the court in a sealed cover on November 12, the next date of hearing, it added.

Above suspicion

Welcoming the Supreme Court order, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said the government “has no interest for or against any individual officer”, and is only trying to maintain the institutional integrity of the country’s premier investigation agency. “The truth coming out is in the larger interest of India,” he said. “All officers of CBI, particularly the top few officers, like Caesar’s wife, must be beyond suspicion.”

The CBI has been embroiled in power tussles with an FIR for bribery and corruption being lodged against its own Special Director Rakesh Asthana who, on his part, has accused his superior Alok Verma of the same charge. Both Verma and Asthana have been sent on leave. Also, 13 top officers were recently shifted from the CBI headquarters amid allegations from the Opposition that the BJP is interfering with the functioning of the premier investigating agency for political purposes.

Hearing Verma’s plea challenging the government’s decision to divest him of his duties and send him on leave, the court sought a response from the CVC and the Centre. It also issued notices to the CBI, Centre, CVC, Verma, Asthana and Rao on a petition filed by an NGO, Common Cause, which has sought a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe against the CBI officers, including Asthana. Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for Asthana, said he has also filed a petition in the matter. During the brief hearing on Friday, senior advocate FS Nariman advanced arguments on behalf of Verma.

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