Chennai: Four men were caught at exiled CBI chief Alok Verma’s residence here early this morning, allegedly snooping from parked cars, in continuing drama involving the country’s main investigating agency. All four, caught by Verma’s security personnel and hauled inside, were said to be junior assistant officers of the Intelligence Bureau.
That the spies were caught on camera and also arrested, gives a fascinating glimpse into what many would describe as turmoil and disconnect between various agencies.
The four men were in their car on the road near 2, Janpath when Verma’s personal security officers stormed out and approached the men.
Police sources said that they were looking into the incident and analysing the video footage being shown on TV.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court today said that it would consider according urgent hearing to a PIL seeking court-monitored SIT probe into allegations of corruption against various CBI officials, including Rakesh Asthana, who was divested of his responsibilities as the agency’s special director.
A bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi considered the submission of lawyer Prashant Bhushan, appearing for NGO Common Cause that there were wider issues of corruption affecting the probe agency and the PIL needed to be heard urgently.
The bench, which also comprised Justices S K Kaul and K M Joseph, asked Bhushan to provide details and said it would consider granting urgent hearing on the petition.
The NGO has sought relief including court-monitored Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe into allegations of corruption against CBI officials including Asthana, who along with CBI Director Alok Kumar Verma had been divested of powers and sent on leave.
The unprecedented internal feud between CBI Director and Asthana had reached the top court on Wednesday which agreed to hear on 26 October the former’s plea assailing the Centre’s decision to divest him of duties and sending him on leave.