New Delhi: After CBI chief Alok Verma was sacked by a high-level committee chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 10, the lone dissenting member of the panel, Congress leader in Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge made a six-page submission to the panel on why Verma should not have been removed from his post.
In the note, Kharge objected to the fact that the committee had not bothered to read Verma’s rebuttal to the CVC’s charges. He also protested about Modi and Justice Sikri refusing to give Verma a proper hearing.
Verma has been shunted out two days after being reinstated by the Supreme Court and has been appointed DG, Fire Services, Civil Defence and Home Guards.
Kharge said during the meeting that Verma, who was sent on a forced leave, should not be penalised and be given an extension of 77 days for which he was not allowed to attend the office. This is the second time Kharge has objected to Verma’s removal.
Also read: With 2:1 Majority, CBI Chief Alok Verma Sacked By High-Level Panel Led By PM Modi
The three-member panel also included A.K, Sikri as a nominee of the Supreme Court Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi.
Read the full text of the submission:
“By removing #AlokVerma from his position without giving him the chance to present his case, PM Modi has shown once again that he’s too afraid of an investigation, either by an independent CBI director or by Parliament via JPC,” Congress tweeted from its official Twitter handle.
By removing #AlokVerma from his position without giving him the chance to present his case, PM Modi has shown once again that he’s too afraid of an investigation, either by an independent CBI director or by Parliament via JPC.
— Congress (@INCIndia) January 10, 2019
Verma has been removed from the high-profile post on charges of corruption and dereliction of duty, making him the first chief in the history of the agency to face such action, officials said.
(With inputs from PTI)