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Alok Verma shunted out as CBI chief

Alok Verma was shunted out as the Central Bureau of Investigation chief after a marathon meeting of high-powered selection committee led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi Thursday, officials said.

Verma, a 1979-batch AGMUT cadre IPS officer, has been removed from the high-profile post on the charges of corruption and dereliction of duty making him the first chief in the history of the agency to face such action, they said.

There were eight counts of charges against him in the Central Vigilance Commission report presented before the committee also comprising Leader of Congress in Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge and Justice A K Sikri, appointed by Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi as his nominee.

The decision for the removal was taken by a majority with Kharge opposing the move, they said.

According to sources, Kharge said during the meeting that 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 Kharge has objected to Verma’s removal.

Source: Rediff