Alok Verma removal as CBI chief: Mallikarjun Kharge gives dissent note

According to sources, Mr. Kharge said during the meeting that Mr. Verma should not be penalised and be given an extension of 77 days for which he was not allowed to attend office.

Mallikarjun Kharge. File

Mallikarjun Kharge, Leader of the Congress in the Lok Sabha, on January 10 gave a dissent note during a meeting of the high-powered panel chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi against its decision to shunt out CBI Director Alok Verma , two days after he was reinstated by the Supreme Court.

According to sources, Mr. Kharge said during the meeting that Mr. Verma, who was sent on a forced leave, should not be penalised and be given an extension of 77 days for which he was not allowed to attend the office. This is the second time Mr. Kharge has objected to Mr. Verma’s removal.

The three-member panel also included A.K. Sikri as a nominee of Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi.

During the meeting, Justice Sikri said there are charges against Mr. Verma to which Mr. Kharge asked “where are the charges”, according to the sources.

“By removing #AlokVerma from his position without giving him the chance to present his case, PM Modi has shown once again that he’s too afraid of an investigation, either by an independent CBI director or by Parliament via JPC,” a tweet from the Congress’ official handle said.

Mr. Verma has been removed from the high-profile post on charges of corruption and dereliction of duty, making him the first chief in the history of the agency to face such action, officials said.