Modi sends CBI Director on leave, faces flak

It’s known that Alok Verma, the Director of Central Bureau of Investigation, recently took action against CBI’s Special Director Rakesh Asthana for allegedly taking a bribe from a businessman.  On Tuesday, Asthana moved the Delhi High Court seeking the quashing of the FIR filed against him.  

Prime Minister Narendra Modi duly chipped in yesterday and started to look into the battle between Verma and Asthana.  He has decided that both Verma and Asthana should be sent on leave.  And M Nageshwar Rao, a Telugu man, has been appointed as the interim director of the CBI with immediate effect.  

“There will be no movement of officials or files at CBI Director’s office and CBI Special Director Rakesh Asthana’s office till 2 pm today,” a news agency has quoted the CBI sources as saying.  

Modi’s decision to tentatively fire the CBI director by divesting him of his duties is inviting political backlash.  Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal asked, “What are the reasons for sending CBI director on leave? Under which law did the Modi govt get the authority to initiate action against the chief of an investigating agency appointed as per the Lokpal Act? What is Modi govt trying to hide?”