Note: This video was originally published on October 6, 2017 and is being republished in light of Centre’s decision to remove director Alok Verma from his post.
Over the past two weeks, the hostility between CBI director Alok Verma and the second ranking officer in the agency, special director Rakesh Asthana, has spilled out in to the open. Asthana has accused Verma of not allowing him to pursue a criminal investigation against Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Lalu Prasad Yadav. Verma, on the other hand, has questioned Asthana’s credibility, pointing out that he is officially the subject of an investigation in six cases.
Also Read: Behind Civil War in CBI, Concern Over Fate of Top PMO Official Linked to Coal Probe
The CBI is investigating the role of Bhaskar Khulbe, an IAS officer, in the allotment of coal blocks to a Bengal based company when he was advisor, industries to the West Bengal government. Khulbe is now a secretary in the PMO and is said to handle the transfers and postings of all Central officers along with P.K. Mishra. While the CBI investigating team has recommended that Khulbe be made an accused, Asthana has taken the stance that Khulbe be made a witness.
The fight within the agency is also said to be stoked by a large corporate house with interests ranging from steel to telecom.