News India PM Modi-led panel meet to decide on CBI Director Alok Verma's fate

PM Modi-led panel meet to decide on CBI Director Alok Verma's fate

Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi and senior Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge are among the members of the panel, however Justice Gogoi has opted out of the panel and nominated Justice A.K. Sikri to represent him in the meeting.

Alok Verma/File Image Image Source : PTIAlok Verma/File Image

A high-powered selection committee, headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, met on Wednesday night to decide on the fate of CBI Director Alok Verma, who was reinstated by a Supreme Court order after he was sent on forced leave by the government

The meeting was held at the prime minister's residence at Lok Kalyan Marg in New Delhi. The outcome of the meeting is not yet known.

Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi and senior Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge are among the members of the panel, however Justice Gogoi had opted out of the panel and nominated Justice A.K. Sikri to represent him in the meeting.

Earlier on Tuesday, the apex court had reinstated Verma as the CBI director. It quashed the government's unprecedented "overnight" order over two months ago, stripping him of his powers and sending him on leave after he and his deputy Rakesh Asthana traded corruption charges sparking a bitter feud.

The court, while reinstating Verma, however, made it clear that he will desist from taking any major policy decision till a high-powered committee considers the issue of "divestment of power and authority". 

Verma's two-year tenure as CBI director ends on January 31.

Meanwhile, Verma had on Wednesday joined the office following the order. 

The Modi government had in October, 2018 sent Verma and Asthana on forced leave. 

(With agency inputs)

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