The corruption charges that Asthana has levelled against the Director are by-product of an investigation that has resulted in filing of First Information Report (FIR) against Asthana. There is no basis in Asthana’s allegation against Verma. It has been lodged with different government agencies including CVC that have surrendered their autonomy to Modi-Shah duo. So it is the ruling duo that is behind whatever Rakesh Asthana is doing and sole aim is to protect the ‘blue-eyed boy’ of the duo from humiliation, arrest and punishment if the law is allowed to take its own course. That is the crux of the present onslaught on CBI. The government has finally decided to end the remaining credibility and autonomy of the primary investigation agencies as it has already done with Election Commission, judiciary at different level and other non-elected autonomous institutions.

What is special in Rakesh Asthana? He has been the tool of Modi-Shah duo since they were ruling the state of Gujarat. The Godhra train burning incident that resulted in worst ever anti-minority violence was “probed” by Asthana who issued a clean chit to Narendra Modi. The allegation still haunts that the burning of bogies at Godhra was handiwork of the state government to prepare ground for sparking communal violence. Since then Rakesh Asthana has been the most trusted IPS of Modi-Shah duo. He was also a tool in getting acquitted Amit Shah in the case of Sohrabuddin’s encounter.

Keeping in view this “loyalty”, Modi-Shah duo wanted to hand over the CBI to Asthana, He was not only made special director but also handed over interim charge before Alok Verma took over. On all occasions when attempts were made to impose Asthana, there were legal objections and petitions were filed. Even then, he created a team illegally in CBI to manipulate the cases as desired by ruling duo.

Now in the name of “equality” the Number one and two of CBI have been sent on leave. But there is no “equality”. All assistants under Verma who were investigating sensitive cases and constituted a team have been shunted out. All the sensitive cases that could have created trouble for Modi-Shah duo and their pet Asthana have been handed over to Asthana loyalists. It is going to be total end of whatever autonomy the CBI had.

Besides, the “sacked” CBI chief has approached the Supreme Court where many more revelations are expected. Already the petition filed by Alok Verma says that many crucial cases were under investigation and the proceedings in these “sensitive” cases were not to the liking of the government. Alok Verma has promised to talk about the sensitive cases in SC that may further embarrass the Modi government. From whatever has appeared so far in the media, it is obvious that the real party in the present controversy is the ruling duo of Narendra Modi and Amit Shah. The courts should debar the two from interfering in the present controversy.

The CBI director has been illegally removed. The Supreme Court should take suo-motu notice and reinstate the director. Simultaneously the blue eyed boy Asthana should be removed from all posts. Actions should be initiated against all Asthana team members and about dozen officers who have been shunted out be restored to their posts with the cases they were handling.

Two former Union ministers and a senior lawyer have moved the Apex Court to take up the Rafale scam in which Prime Minister Modi is directly involved. Though the three have linked it with the present upheaval in CBI, it will be more appropriate that the SC takes up the Rafale scam separately and constitutes a separate SIT of trustworthy investigators with a mandate to complete the enquiry in a fixed time under the direct supervision of the Apex Court. (IPA Service)