New Delhi: Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Director Alok Verma’s petition against Centre’s decision to divest him of his duties and send him on leave will now be heard by the Supreme Court on 29 November after the apex court was told that details of Central Vigilance Commission enquiry against Verma and his reply were leaked and published by a news website.
Infuriated by the alleged leak of the CVC report and Verma’s reply, the three-judge bench led by Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi also pointed out that Verma’s lawyers had on Monday sought additional time to file his comments.
However, senior advocate Fali Nariman, appearing on Verma’s behalf, told the court that his client had not sought more time on Monday to file his reply.
An irate CJI then observed that ‘we do not think that any of you deserve a hearing today’. Nariman also expressed his shock over the alleged leak of Vermas reply to the court on CVCs findings which was submitted to the Supreme Court secretary-general in a sealed envelope on Monday.
A part of the CVC report and Verma’s reply were published late on Monday night by a news website.
Senior advocate Nariman and lawyer Gopal Shankaranarayanan, who represent Verma, mentioned the case again before a bench headed by CJI Gogoi and sought hearing during the day itself.
The bench has agreed to the submission and said it will accord them a hearing after finishing the day’s work.
The apex court Monday asked Verma to file a response to the CVC report on corruption charges ‘as quickly as possible’. Last week, the top court granted Verma access to his CVC report which details charges against him.
The Supreme Court also specifically asked Verma to maintain the secrecy of the report.
The feud between Verma and Special CBI Director Rakesh Asthana emerged in the public after both levelled corruption charges against each other. Centre later sent both of them on leave. Verma then moved the Supreme Court challenging this decision of the Centre.