Heena Sharma Blog

The Supreme Court Thursday reserved judgement on the petition moved by CBI Director Alok Verma , challenging the Centre's decision to divest him of all powers and sending him on leave. A bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi concluded the arguments on behalf of Verma, Centre, Central Vigilance Commission and others who were party in the matter. The court also heard the petition moved by NGO Common Cause which had sought court-monitored SIT probe into allegations of corruption against various CBI officials including Special Director Rakesh Asthana. Read More Business Standard

Congress chief Rahul Gandhi Friday alleged that Dassault Aviation paid Rs 2.84 billion to Anil Ambani's Reliance Defence as the "first installment of kickbacks" and claimed Prime Minister Narendra Modi was having "sleepless nights" fearing action if a probe was conducted into the Rafale deal . He also alleged that CBI chief Alok Verma was removed as he wanted to investigate the deal. There was no immediate reaction from the government and Ambani on the fresh charges made by Gandhi. However, they have previously rejected all allegations made over the Rafale deal. Dassault Aviation CEO ric Trappier has said the reason Ambani's firm was given the offset contract and not state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) was that it had land for the project, he said, alleging the land was purchased by Ambani's company with the money that Dassault gave.       "Dassault gave Rs 2.84 billion to a loss-making company with a valuation of Rs...

Congress President Rahul Gandhi Friday courted arrest after staging a protest outside the CBI headquarters in New Delhi against the move to divest CBI Director Alok Verma of his powers and send him on leave. Earlier addressing the gathering Gandhi attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the issue. He also accused him of destroying institutions including the CBI, the Election Commission and the Enforcement Directorate. Senior Congress leaders, including Ashok Gehlot, Ahmed Patel, Motilal Vora, Veerappa Moily and Anand Sharma, took part in the march that culminated in a demonstration ahead of the CBI headquarters. Loktantrik Janata Dal leader Sharad Yadav, CPI leader D Raja and TMC's Nadimul Haque joined the protest. The Congress' protests in the national capital were replicated in other parts of the country. State Congress leaders led demonstrations in their regions against what the Congress described as the "illegal, unconstitutional and ill...

CBI Director Verma and Special Director Rakesh Asthana have been "divested of all powers" amid an ongoing spat between them. In a tweet, Gandhi said, "CBI Chief Alok Verma was collecting documents relating to the Rafale scam. He was forcibly sent on leave". "The Prime Minister's message is very clear that whoever comes near Rafale (issue) will be removed, wiped out," he charged. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, however, has dismissed as "rubbish" allegations that Verma was removed because he wanted to look into the Rafale fighter jet deal . He said the government's decision to remove Verma and Asthana is based on the Central Vigilance Commission's recommendations. The Congress has been alleging massive irregularities in the Rafale deal. The government has vehemently rejected all allegations. Read Complete Article Business Standard

India's premier investigating agency, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is witnessing an unprecedented crisis since the last few weeks. The ongoing struggle between the two top bosses - Alok Verma and Rakesh Asthana - of the CBI escalated on Monday as the investigating agency conducted a raid on the 10th floor of its own headquarters in New Delhi. The CBI on Monday also arrested its DSP Devender Kumar in connection with bribery allegations against its special Director Rakesh Asthana. The arrest comes a day after the CBI registered an FIR against Asthana, Kumar and two others. Rakesh Asthana, on his part, has drawn up a list of cases against Director Alok Verma and other top CBI officials. He has apparently listed a dozen charges, double the number that the CBI has him docked for. According to latest reports, he has also approached Delhi High Court to get CBI's FIR against him quashed. Read Complete Article Business Standard