The Saga Comes To An End: Ousted CBI Chief Alok Verma Resigns From Service, Refuses To Take Up New Assignment

Former CBI director Alok Verma, who was removed from his position as the head of the investigative agency on Thursday (10 January 2019), has rejected his new assignment as DG Fire Services, Civil Defence and Home Guards.

He thus tendered his resignation from the Indian Police Service (IPS) citing his crossing of the age of superannuation, reports The Indian Express.

Here’s the resignation letter of Alok Verma.

In the letter communicating his resignation, Verma questioned his removal from the top position by a panel led by the prime minister, stating, “Natural justice was scuttled and the entire process was turned upside down in ensuring that the undersigned is removed from the post of the Director CBI.”

M Nageshwar Rao, who was previously an Additional Director of the CBI, has taken over as Director of the organisation, and as one of his first directives, reversed all transfer orders issued by Verma.

Meanwhile, proceedings continue against Verma’s rival, Special Director of the CBI Rakesh Asthana, with a petition seeking quashing of the FIR against him being rejected by the Delhi High Court, as reported by TOI.

The court noted that approval under Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act is not necessary for prosecuting criminal acts of public servants and called for an expeditious disposal of pending cases against Asthana to swiftly ‘restore credibility of the CBI’.

In his letter, Verma also contended that the CVC report against him was based on charges levelled by Asthana, a complainant himself under CBI investigation, which was not taken account of the Selection Committee while removing him from office.