New Delhi, November 6: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) chief Alok Verma has responded to the Central Vigilance Committee (CVC) order and denies corruption charges against him. While responding to the CVC allegations that Verma is not cooperating in the probe, he said that the charges are baseless and there was nothing wrong with my actions. The CVC is monitored by Justice AK Patnaik (retired). The agency has also started recording statements of various CBI officials in connection with the case.

Last week, Senior Congress leader and Member of Parliament Mallikarjun Kharge challenging the government’s decision to send Verma on leave. Kharge in his petition said that the act was, 'completely illegal, arbitrary, punitive, without jurisdiction'. In the petition, he also stated that hat neither the CVC nor the government could curtain Verma’s tenure.

Earlier, the Congress alleged that the Narendra Modi had removed Verma from the post as he wanted to investigate the Rafale fighter jet deal. Last month, Congress president, Rahul Gandhi while addressing the media in Delhi on the Rafale issue said it was simply a PM Narendra Modi-Anil Ambani partnership. Meanwhile, the apex court has set a two-week deadline for the CVC to complete the inquiry against Verma. Meanwhile, 1986 -batch IPS officer Nageshwar Rao was also given an interim charge of the agency.

On October 15, the CBI registered an FIR against Verma’s deputy Rakesh Asthana for allegedly accepting bribes to settle a case involving meat exporter Moin Qureshi, who is facing multiple cases of money laundering and corruption. However, Asthana had also filed a complaint against the CBI Director accusing him of interfering in the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation corruption case involving family members of RJD leader Lalu Prasad Yadav.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 06, 2018 04:24 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).