Selection Committee removes Alok Verma from post of CBI Director

A day after he was reinstated as Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Director, Alok Verma has been removed from the post, according to news reports..Today, the Selection Committee constituted under Section 4A(1) of the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act (DSPE Act) removed Verma from the post. The Committee comprised Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Leader of the Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge, and Justice AK Sikri, who was nominated to be part of the Committee following Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi’s recusal..Reports suggest that Verma has been ousted by a 2:1 majority, with PM Modi and Justice Sikri voting in favour of relieving him of the post of CBI Director. Kharge, it appears, dissented..Just yesterday, the Supreme Court had set aside the orders of the Central government and the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) divesting Alok Verma of his powers as CBI Director..While doing so, the Court also directed the Selection Committee to consider the issue afresh, and held that Alok Verma shall cease and desist from taking any major policy decision pending the Committee’s consideration..This case reached the Supreme Court in October 2018 after the Centre sent Alok Verma on leave, effectively divesting him of his powers as the Director of the CBI. The DoPT and the CVC issued notices in a midnight move on October 29 announcing this decision..Through the same notice, the Centre also divested CBI Special Director Rakesh Asthana of his powers. This unprecedented move came in the wake of infighting between Verma and Asthana.