Govt 'misused' CVC, says Cong; demands reinstating Alok Verma

The Congress Saturday accused the government of removing CBI director Alok Verma by "misusing" the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) and demanded that a high-powered committee convene another meeting and reinstate the officer.

Party spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi alleged that the government stood exposed after Justice (retd) A K Patnaik claimed that he had not seen the CVC recommendations against Verma and not accorded his assent.

He said the Selection Committee removed Verma based on CBI special director Rakesh Asthana's charges, whose plea to quash the FIR against him was dismissed by the Delhi High Court.

"Is it not strange that Rakesh Asthana, who himself is under investigation, was the basis of Verma's removal?" Singhvi told reporters here.

Taking on the government, the Congress leader said the full basis for the removal of the CBI director was the CVC report.

"But the CVC can neither appoint nor remove the CBI chief. The office of the CVC has been compromised by the government,"