Four men were arrested outside ousted Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) director Alok Verma’s residence in New Delhi on Thursday, allegedly for snooping.
According to NDTV, the men were found sitting in a car outside Verma’s residence. After being caught by Verma’s security personnel, they were taken inside his house.
The men were later handed over to the Delhi Police.
The Wire has claimed that it has the names and identification number of the four arrested men and that they were from the Intelligence Bureau (IB).
Verma was sent on a forced leave yesterday. An order was issued by the government that stated that agency’s Joint Director, M. Nageshwar Rao shall take over the duties and functions of CBI Director with immediate effect.
“The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved that during the period of the subsistence of the aforesaid interim measure, cited in reference above, Shri M Nageshwar Rao, IPS, presently working as Joint Director, CBI shall look after duties and functions of Director CBI and shall take over the duties and functions with immediate effect,” the notification read.
Also read: Modi removes CBI Director Alok Verma from post. What is the govt hiding?
As per media report, both, Alok Verma and CBI Special Director Rakesh Asthana are now on interim leave and their offices have been sealed.
Asthana, a 1984 batch Indian Police Service officer of Gujarat cadre, went on interim leave as soon as an FIR was lodged against him by Verma in an alleged bribery case. The case pertains to Asthana having allegedly demanding a bribe of Rs 5 crore from a Hyderabad-based businessman through two middlemen to help him avoid getting convicted in the Moin Qureshi case.
Another allegation was made by Verma against Asthana regarding the Sterling Biotech case. However, Asthana wrote to the Cabinet Secretary alleging that Verma was interfering in his work.
As per a report in The Wire, the government acted against Verma for having to ask for documentation on the controversial Rafale deal. As per the report, Verma has also requested for sanction to arrest an official considered close to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
As per the same report, Verma was also mulling over initiating a preliminary enquiry into the deal.