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CBI shuffle: Kharge shoots angry letter to Modi

Last Updated 16 December 2018, 18:19 IST

Senior Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday shot off an angry letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi saying there were no visible grounds for divesting CBI Director Alok Verma of his powers and appointing an interim chief in his place.

Kharge, a member of the selection committee to appoint the CBI director, said neither the Prime Minister nor the Central Vigilance Commission had the authority to interfere with the tenure of the CBI Director.

“The move should have had the approval of the selection committee,” he said.

The CBI chief is selected by a committee chaired by the Prime Minister, with the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha and the Chief Justice of India as other members.

“The only plausible explanation for this desperate and hasty move is an attempt to scuttle the ongoing investigation into the Special Director’s cases and other cases that might cause significant embarrassment to your government,” Kharge said in the letter.

“The de-facto transfer/divesting of authority of the Director CBI, is illegal, malafide and points to a sinister agenda to scuttle important investigation, including the Rafale deal,” he said.

Snooping by IB

The Congress leader also questioned the Prime Minister on the alleged snooping at the CBI Director's residence.

“...it's extremely worrying and alarming to find IB officers are snooping and keeping an eye on officer sent on leave...surveillance of opposition and political opponents has been the very basic nature of this government, but to meddle so blatantly in an ongoing explosive investigation will further erode the sanctity and trust that our police force and its officers have earned over the past 70 years,” Kharge said.

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(Published 25 October 2018, 17:02 IST)

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