Ex Interim CBI chief Nageswara Rao offers unconditional apology to SC for transferring officer against its order

Ex Interim CBI chief M Nageswara Rao today offered an unconditional apology to the Supreme Court for transferring former joint director AK Sharma against its order.

Rao, who filed an affidavit in response to a contempt notice issued to him on February 7, accepted that he committed "mistake" in transferring the officer and apologised to the court, saying he had no intention to circumvent its orders.

He said that he was praying for an unconditional and unqualified apology by the apex court.

"I sincerely realise my mistake and while tendering my unqualified and unconditional apology, I specially state I have not wilfully violated the order of this court as I cannot even dream of violating or circumventing order of this court," Rao said in the affidavit.

He admitted that in view of the Supreme Court orders dated October 31 and November 28, 2018 "I ought not have agreed with the legal advice for relieving AK Sharma even in his promotion without prior approval of this court".

The Supreme Court on February 7 came down heavily on the CBI for transferring Sharma, who was probing Bihar's shelter home cases, out of the agency in violation of the court's order and had directed Rao to personally appear before it on February 12. A bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi took serious note of the violation of the two earlier orders and issued contempt notice to Rao for transferring Sharma to the CRPF on January 17 without taking prior permission from the court.

"I unhesitatingly accept my mistake and tender my unconditional and unequivocal apology to this court. I most respectfully pray that this court may be graciously pleased to accept the same," Rao said.