CBI vs CBI : SC orders Alok Verma probe within 14 days

Hearing the petition of CBI Director Alok Verma, the Supreme Court today ordered the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) to complete the probe into the allegations against director Verma within two weeks.

The apex court said this investigation must be conducted under the supervision of retired Supreme Court judge AK Patnaik. Meanwhile, Nageshwar Rao, who is the interim CBI director, has been restricted from taking any policy decisions.

In a midnight decision on Tuesday, the Modi government ordered Alok Verma and his deputy, Rakesh Asthana, to go on an indefinite leave till the time their names are not cleared in inquiries pending against them.

Following the order, their offices were sealed and many top officials were transferred. In his petition, Alok Verma has challenged the legality of the Modi government's order. The CBI director enjoys a fix tenure of two years and his appointment is made after consultation between the PM, the Chief Justice of India and the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha.

Besides the PM, the other two members were reportedly not consulted before Verma was asked to go on an indefinite leave.

Meanwhile, Congress president Rahul Gandhi has accused the Modi government of punishing Verma because he was investigating the Rafale deal. Rahul Gandhi will stage a protest outside the CBI headquarters in New Delhi today, while other Congress workers have started protests in other parts of country.