Alok Kumar Verma quits new post, no Delhi HC relief for Rakesh Asthana

A day after Alok Kumar Verma was removed as Central Bureau of Investigation director on graft charges and made the chief of fire services, he snubbed the new post, calling the move to shunt him a "scuttling of natural justice."

The agency's special director Rakesh Asthana, meanwhile, who had moved the Delhi High Court seeking to quash a bribery case against him, had his plea rejected.

Amid this, Additional Director M Nageswara Rao took charge as interim director of the premier investigating agency, and nullified all transfer orders issued by Verma. The special investigation team Rao constituted will continue to probe bribery allegations against Asthana.

Justice Najmi Waziri directed the CBI to conclude investigation against Asthana within 10 weeks.

On December 20, Justice Najmi Waziri had reserved the order on Asthana's plea, in which he had said the case registered against him was registered in an illegal manner, with mala fide intention.

Meanwhile, officials said on Friday that senior Indian Information Service officer Nitin Wakankar will be the new Chief Information Officer and spokesperson of CBI, replacing Abhishek Dayal who has been transferred to the Publications Division. Wakankar has served in Rashtrapati Bhavan, Defence Ministry, and the I&B Ministry.

Eased Out  

• Verma was removed by Selection Committee including PM, Leader of Opposition, CJI Gogoi
• Verma stated on Thursday he was transferred on the basis of ‘false and frivolous allegations’ made by only one person, who was inimical to him