Government moved on CBI following CVC recommendations: Arun Jaitley

New Delhi: The government’s decision to send the feuding CBI director, Alok Verma, and special director Rakesh Asthana on leave was based on recommendations by the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC), finance minister Arun Jaitley said.

The decision was deemed essential in order to restore the agency’s institutional integrity and credibility, he told reporters at a news briefing. A special investigation team (SIT) will look into the charges levelled against both officials, he said. “To maintain the institutional integrity of the CBI and in the interest of fairness, they will sit out and go on leave as an interim measure so that the SIT does not function under the officers under investigation,” Jaitley said. “It is in accordance with the highest standards.”

It is up to the agency or the CVC, which has a supervisory role over the CBI in such instances, to constitute the SIT, the minister told reporters.


The CVC, which had received details of accusations the officers had levelled against each other, made its recommendations on Monday evening as an “accused or potential accused” cannot be allowed to be in charge of investigations against themselves, Jaitley said. The government had no role in the matter, he added. Jaitley said the allegations had led to a “bizarre and unfortunate” situation. He declined to comment on the merits of the accusations.

“There are allegations against the two topmost officers,” he said. “Who will probe them? The requirements of fairness and fair play have to be there. It does not fall under the government’s domain. The government cannot probe it and will not do it.” It’s important for all concerned — government, opposition, citizens — that the fairness of the country’s principal investigation agencies was maintained, Jaitley said.

He dismissed allegations by opposition parties, including the Congress party, that Verma had been sent on leave because he was to look into the Rafale fighter jet deal. “I regard this charge as rubbish,” he said.