New Delhi: Media Reports suggesting that there was “nothing substantial” in the allegations against ousted CBI chief Alok Verma has opened a can of worms for the Government which had used the extraordinary power of the CVC to send him on forced leave. The reports that “nothing substantial” was found in the Justice Patnaik probe appeared in the Times of India. This report is expected to be submitted to the Chief Justice on Monday where a final call would be taken on reinstating Alok Verma.

It is not known whether the Supreme Court would want to hear the Centre before passing any orders. 

This move may look like a setback for the Centre. What is also alarming for a section of the Government is that “sensitive” cases may be reopened.

The return of Alok Verma would be looked upon with renewed interest since seven sensitive files are on his desk. These are the list of pending cases as listed out by the Indian Express

* A complaint against alleged irregularities in the Rafale fighter deal with France: The verification process of the complaint was on in the agency and, sources said, “a decision was to be taken”. The 132-page complaint was received by Verma on October 4, and had been filed by former Union Ministers Yashwant Sinha and Arun Shourie and lawyer Prashant Bhushan. 

* The CBI has been probing the role of highly-placed individuals in the Medical Council of India (MCI) bribery case, which implicated retired High Court judge I M Quddusi. The charge sheet against Quddusi, sources said, had been prepared and was ready for Verma’s signature.

* The case of Justice S N Shukla of Allahabad High Court, who was sent on leave following allegations of corruption in medical admissions, had been identified as fit for investigation. Sources said a PE had been prepared and was awaiting Verma’s signature.

* Another case being looked at by the CBI was BJP MP Subramanian Swamy’s letters to the CBI, complaining against Finance and Revenue Secretary Hasmukh Adhia.

* The alleged role of IAS officer Bhaskar Khulbe, Secretary to the Prime Minister, is being investigated by the CBI in a case of allocation of coal mines.

* In another case, a Delhi-based middleman was raided in the first week of October. An alleged pay-off list and Rs 3 crore in cash were found and the CBI was told he had a role in bribing politicians and officials for “senior Public Sector Unit appointments”.

* The CBI probe into Sandesara and the Sterling Biotech case was nearing completion, and the alleged role of Asthana was being investigated.

In his petition, Verma argued that his ‘shunting out’ violated law that provides for a fixed tenure of two years. He said the transfer of a CBI director has to be with the consent of the high powered committee. The order sending him on leave had bypassed the mandate of the committee.

Verma has asked for a stay of the order against him and said “the present action gives serious credence to the requirement that CBI be given independence from the DoPT, which seriously hinders the independent functioning of the agency”.

He also said that not all influence exerted by the government is explicit or in writing. “More often than not, it is tacit, and requires considerable courage to withstand it.”

Earlier the CVC order on Verma’s removal was to conduct an enquiry under section 8 1(a), d and section 11 of the CVC Act which called for production of the records as directed by the CVC. That process was over by Friday and “nothing substantial” seems to have been found against Alok Verma.

If Verma is taken back because of no evidence, then the CVC order becomes infructuous.

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