New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday adjourned the hearing in the Central Vigilance Commission’s version in the bribery case against Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Director Alok Kumar Verma till Friday, citing that CVC delayed submitting the probe report. 

Sources said CVC has submitted the report today. Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi was reportedly miffed by the delay.

CBI chief Verma has been accused of accepting a bribe in the Moin Qureshi case by Special CBI Director Rakesh Asthana, who himself is accused of indulging in corrupt practices by the former.


CBI chief Verma has been accused of accepting a bribe in the Moin Qureshi case by Special CBI Director Rakesh Asthana, who himself is accused of indulging in corrupt practices by the former.

The hearing assumes significance as Verma, who has a running feud with Special CBI Director Rakesh Asthana, has been appearing before the three-member CVC headed by K V Chowdary and is understood to have given a point-wise refusal to all the allegation levelled against him by his deputy. 

In November, the apex court had directed CVC to complete its probe in a bribery case within 14 days. The court had appointed former apex court judge A K Patnaik to supervise the ongoing CVC inquiry against Verma.

Besides, the apex court had also barred IPS officer M Nageswara Rao, who has been given interim charge of the CBI, from taking any major decision.
 
The story so far

> October 2017: The feud begins

The tussle started a year ago when CBI chief Verma raised an objection to Asthana's appointment as Special Director in front of a five-member panel led by CVC. 

>Asthana gets clean chit.

Verma reportedly alleged that Asthana was involved in the Sterling Biotech scam. But a panel set up to probe the allegation dismissed the charge and decided to promote Asthana to the post of special director. Later Supreme Court also gave him a clean chit in the case. 

Asthan attends CVC meeting 

On July 12, when Alok Verma was abroad, CVC invited Asthana to a meeting about promotions in the investigating agency. On this, Verma wrote to CVC that he had not authorised Asthana to represent him in meetings. 

Asthana accuses Verma in Moin Qureshi case 

On August 24, Asthana wrote a letter to CVC and Cabinet Secretary and accused Verma and his close aide additional director NK Sharma of corruption. 
He alleged that Hyderabad-based businessman Sathish Sana had paid Rs 2 crore to Verma for a clean chit in the Moin Qureshi case. And Verma and Sharma were trying to save the accused in the case. 

Asthana gives clarification to CVC 
In September, Asthana again writes to CVC and said that he wanted to arrest Sana last month but Verma rejected the proposal. He also reportedly alleged when his team tried to interrogate Sana in February Verma had intervened and stopped them from going ahead. 

Reshuffle in Asthana's staff 

Meanwhile, Verma took important cases being investigated by Asthana and handed them over to AK Sharma. This included matters related to Delhi Government, IRCTC scam, P Chidambaram and others. Asthana's staff was also reshuffled. 

Allegations against Asthana by businessman 

On October 4, CBI detained Sana and he was produced before the magistrate, where he claims that he has paid Rs 3 crore to Asthana in the last 10 months. 

On October 15, CBI filed an FIR against Asthana for alleged corruption in Moin Qureshi case. 

Both senior officials divested

On October 23, the Delhi High Court directed CBI to maintain the status quo in the case against Rakesh Asthana and a trial court sent mid-level CBI officer Devender Kumar to seven-day CBI remand. 

October 24: In an overnight decision, on the basis of a recommendation by the CVC, the government removed both Alok Verma and Rakesh Asthana from their posts. 
The government claimed that ousted CBI Director was not cooperating with the CVC and defended its decision to send him on leave.

Supreme Court appoints ex-judge to supervise CVC inquiry

On October 26, the apex court-appointed former SC judge AK Patnaik to supervise the ongoing inquiry of CVC against Verma. 
Besides issuing notices to the Centre and the CVC on the plea of Verma, the apex court,  also set a deadline of two weeks for the CVC to complete the preliminary inquiry against the CBI director. 

Verma, Asthana record statements before CVC

On November 9, Verma and his deputy Asthana on Friday blamed each other for corruption while defending themselves as they deposed before CVC panel. 

Alok Verma met with CVC delegation and gave a point-by-point refusal to allegations levied against him. 

Asthana, who reached the CVC headquarters after Verma left, reiterated the corruption allegations against Verma in his 40-minute deposition and denied involvement in any bribery case.
 

(With agency inputs)