Where will PM hide? Congress after SC reinstates Alok Verma as CBI chief

Giving a thumbs down to the Centre, the Supreme Court on Tuesday reinstated Alok Verma as the CBI chief. 

Linking the Centre's move with the pot-boiling Rafale issue, the Congress said on Twitter, "Alok Verma was investigating the #RafaleScam, so he was illegally & undemocratically removed from his position. Today the SC has proven to PM Modi that democracy will always fight back. Where will NoMo hide, now that all his skeletons are falling out of the closet."

In an early tweet, the Congress said: "We welcome the Supreme Court's verdict lambasting the govt. against their illegal removal of Alok Verma as CBI Director. The SC has reinstated Alok Verma as director."

Supreme Court judgement:

The Supreme Court has quashed the Centre's move to remove Verma, who had moved the top court with an appeal against the action taken against him.

The Supreme Court has said it is the Selection Panel, which is constituted by the Prime Minister, Chief Justice of India and leader of the single largest opposition party, can take the decision. The Selection Panel has been directed to meet within a week from now and take a call.

Verma, meanwhile, cannot take any policy decision of the CBI.

Backdrop of the Centre's move:

The CBI chief was sent on leave in October after he was caught in the middle of a case revolving around Verma and his deputy Rakesh Asthana swapping bribe charges.

The fight between the number one and two of the CBI took a big form after Asthana had alleged that Verma took a bribe from Hyderabad businessman Sathish Babu Sana. Sana had allegedly paid Rs. 2 crore to protect himself from Moin Qureshi case.

However, Asthana rubbished the charges saying it was hurled against him owing to a conspiracy between the accuser and some CBI and Enforcement Directorate officers.

Along with Verma, the Centre had sent Asthana on leave as well.

In absence of Verma, the Centre had appointed Indian Police Service (IPS) officer M Nageswara Rao as the CBI's interim chief. But Rao was barred by the top court from taking any policy decisions.

Reactions of political leaders:

Almost singing in tune with the Congress, Delhi chief minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) supremo, Arvind Kejrwal, tweeted, "SC reinstating CBI director Alok Verma is a direct indictment of the PM. Modi govt has ruined all institutions and democracy in our country. Wasn't CBI director illegally removed at midnight to stall the probe in Rafale scam which directly leads to PM himself?"

Accusing the Centre of using independent institutions for political vendetta, former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chief, Mehbooba Mufti, said: "Welcome SCs decision to reinstate #AlokVerma as CBI Dir.Reinstates belief in independent institutions of our democracy that are its pillars. Time for the Central gov to stop misusing its influence to arm twist investigative agencies like NIA & CBI for political vendetta."

Hitting out at the Prime Minister, CPI-M general secretary Sitaram Yechury said: "This reinstatement of the CBI Director by the Supreme Court is a direct indictment of Modi and his office. Will he take responsibility for this blatantly illegal act? If he has any moral conscience he should quit. Accountability, anyone or is it just #jumlas?"

He further said: "No other govt in independent India has tried to kill institutions the way Modi govt has, because it is scared of its massive corruption, cronyism and illegalities at the very top being caught out."

Image: Congress Twitter