CBI vs CBI LIVE updates: SC orders CVC to carry probe against Alok Verma within 14 days

Central Bureau of Investigation Director Alok Verma was stripped of his position and was forced to go on leave at 2:30 am on Wednesday, October 24. Joint Director Nageswar Rao was appointed as the interim chief. 

Following this, Verma contested this move and the Supreme Court heard his case on Friday morning. 

After hearing all sides of the case, the top court ordered the Central Vigilance Committee (CVC) probe against Verma to be completed within two weeks and Supreme Court ex-judge AK Patnaik will oversee the investigation. 

The other orders were that while Rao is the interim chief, he will not take any policy decisions till the Supreme Court hears the matter.

The next hearing is set for November 12. 

The apex court declared that even though Verma was divested of his duties, he is still the CBI chief till the Central Vigilance Committee looks into the matter and investigates the allegation levelled against Verma. 

Rahul Gandhi was arrested in Delhi after staging a protest against the removal of CBI director Alok Verma.

After he left the police station, he tweeted, "PM can run, he can hide but in the end, truth will be revealed. Removing CBI Director will not help. PM acted against CBI Director; it was an act out of panic."

Congress President Rahul Gandhi, who was leading the protest against the removal of CBI chief Alok Verma is reportedly detained by the police along with other protesters. 

The Trinamool Congress and Communist Party of India also joined the Congress in the protest march from Dayal Singh College to the CBI headquarters in Delhi. 

Telugu Desam Party protests against the removal of the CBI Director outside the CBI office in Hyderabad. 

The police resorted to water cannons on the Congress workers during their protests against the removal of CBI Director Alok Verma. 

"Congress doesn't have any people's issues to raise that is why they are taking up these non-issues. We should wait for the investigation report," Home Minister Rajnath Singh is quoted saying by ANI. 

Rahul Gandhi and Ashok Gehlot lead the march towards CBI HQ. They are protesting against the removal of the CBI Director Alok Verma. 

Telugu Desam Party will reportedly be joining Congress' protests outside the CBI office in Hyderabad.   

Communist Party of India's D Raja and Sharad Yadav joined Rahul Gandhi in the protests outside Dayal Singh College in Delhi. 

The apex court has set the next date of hearing on November 12. It has ordered Nageswar Rao to submit the list of officers in sealed envelopes, reports Times Now. 

The Supreme Court has ordered interim chief Nageswar Rao not to take any policy decisions till the matter is resolved and heard by the SC. 

The court has also ordered the CBI to submit the transfer orders. 

The Supreme Court has ordered the CVC investigation against CBI chief Alok Verma to be completed within 14 days. 

The court further ordered that former Supreme Court judge AK Patnaik will oversee the probe. 

The hearing for the case begins at 11.20 am. Alok Verma's lawyer, Fali Nariman has begun his arguments. He claims there is a clear violation of precedents. 

CBI special director Rakesh Asthana has challenged the government's decision to remove him from his post and has now approached Supreme Court. 

Former Attorney General Rohatgi is representing him. 

Tushar Mehta, senior advocate and newly-appointed Solicitor General of India, will represent the Central Vigilance Committee. The CVC is currently investigating the bribery allegations against the top two bureaucrats, Verma and Asthana. Due to the investigations, they are currently on forced leave. 

Senior Advocate Dushyant Dave will represent Prashanth Bhushan at the hearing. 

In the PIL filed by Bhushan, he has asked to revoke the decision of placing CBI director Verma on forced leave and reinstate him. Bhushan also asked to amp up the investigation on Rakesh Asthana and other corrupt officials in the CBI. 

While leaving his residence to go to the Supreme Court, Former Attorney General and senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi said, "It is just one more case. What is big about it? It is not as important as you think it is."

The lawyer is representing Rakesh Asthana.

After the All India Trinamool Congress pledged their support to the Congress  in their protests against the sidelining of the CBI chief, TMC's Nadeem-ul Hwillill join Rahul Gandhi in Delhi as the TMC representative in Delhi. 

A CBI spokesperson has denied the claims that files were removed at the headquarters to stop the investigations carried out by the CVC. 

However, due to the ongoing investigation, many fear that the country's top investigative agency's reputation will be damaged. the spokeperson allayed these fears too, telling that it will not be the case, reports Firstpost. 

CBI chief Alok Verma and Special Director Rakesh Asthana have blamed each other for allegedly taking bribes from businessman Moin Qureshi in exchange for suspects' relief. 

Due to this, Verma and Asthan were divested of their powers and duties by the Central Vigilance Committee. This is currently being contested in the top court. 

However, on Thursday evening, the Supreme Court said that Verma is still the Director and Asthana, the special director until the CVC investigates the allegations against them and examine the evidence in the case. 

Former Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi will represent Special Director Rakesh Asthana. He will arrive at the Supreme Court shortly. Asthana was seen outside Rohatgi's residence in Delhi on Friday morning. 

Barricades have been placed and extra personnel have been deployed to maintain safety and peace outside the CBI headquarters in Delhi. 

The Congress president tweeted, asking for everyone to join him in his march from Dayal Singh College in Lodhi Road to the CBI headquarters in Delhi.

He tweeted, " Join us today at 11 AM as we march from Dayal Singh College on Lodhi Road to the CBI HQ, to protest the PM's disgraceful & unconstitutional attempt to block an investigation into the Rafale scam by removing the CBI Chief. Similar protests are being held today, across India."

TMC has vowed to support the Congress in its protest against removing Alok Verma as the CBI director. The Mamta Banerjee-led party will protest outside all CBI offices across the country. 

The two cases to be heard today are Alok Verma challenging the CVC's decision to oust him of the CBI and stripping him of his powers and duties.

A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was filed by lawyer Prashanth Bhushan challenging the move to remove Alok Verma as the CBI director in the middle of the night. The PIL also requested an investigation into the corruption in the investigative agency, focussing on special director Rakesh Asthana. 

The SC bench comprising of Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi, Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and KM Joseph will hear the case at 10:30 am. 

Senior lawyers Fali S Nariman, Sanjay Hegde will represent Alok Verma at the Supreme Court hearing today. 

Ahead of the Supreme Court hearing of Alok Verma's plea, security forces have been deployed outside the CBI office in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. 

On Thursday, Congress chief Rahul Gandhi announced that the party would be outside the CBI offices on Friday protesting against the removal of Alok Verma to cover up the ongoings of the Rafale deal.