Essential To Restore CBI’s Institutional Integrity And Credibility, Says Arun Jaitley

The government’s decision to remove CBI Director Alok Verma and Special Director Rakesh Asthana is based on the Central Vigilance Commission’s recommendations, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said on Wednesday, asserting that it was absolutely essential to restore the agency’s institutional integrity and credibility.

The Central Vigilance Commission made its recommendations on Tuesday evening, he said.

Jaitley told reporters that allegations by the two top officers of the country’s premier investigation agency led to a “bizarre and unfortunate” situation.

A special investigation team will probe the charges and both persons will “sit out” as an interim measure, he said.

It is an extraordinary situation, and the accused cannot be allowed to be in charge of investigation against them, the minister said.

He also dismissed as “rubbish” allegations of opposition parties, including the Congress, that Verma was removed because he wanted to look into the Rafale fighter jet deal.