New Delhi, October 24: The Narendra Modi government on Wednesday gave its first reaction on the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) turmoil, saying that a fair investigation was essential to maintain the institutional integrity of the probe agency. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, while speaking to the media today, said that the incidents that unfolded at the CBI were "unfortunate". He said that the government couldn't let the international image of the CBI be hampered. Internal Squabble in CBI Shocking: Former Officials

"Director has been accused by the Special Director. A Special Director has been accused by CBI. Two top-most officers of CBI have been accused. Now, who will investigate it? Requirements of fairness and fair play have to be there. The government can't investigate it," Jaitley said. "An SIT not functioning under either of these officers will investigate. This is in accordance with the highest standards of fairness," he added.

Jaitley also rubbished the Opposition's charge of the Government interfering with the internal functioning of the CBI.

Video: Arun Jaitley's Reaction to CBI Turmoil

CBI Director Alok Verma and Special Director Rakesh Asthana have been sent on leave amid the ongoing spat between them while M Nageshwar Rao has taken charge as interim director of CBI. Verma, today, moved the Supreme Court against the order on him being sent on leave. His plea will be heard by the apex court on Friday. Gopal Sankaranarayanan, the lawyer appearing for Alok Verma, told the Supreme Court that the central government in the morning asked Verma and Special Director Rakesh Asthana to go on leave compromising the investigation into many sensitive cases.

Meanwhile, there has been a big reshuffle in the team probing charges against Asthana. Deputy SP AK Bassi has been transferred and posted as Deputy SP CBI, ACB Port Blair and Additional SP CBI SS Gum has been transferred and posted as CBI, ACB Jabalpur. CBI DIG Manish Kumar Sinha, DIG Taurn Gauba, DIG Jasbir Singh, DIG Anish Prasad, DIG KR Chaurasia, HoB Ram Gopal and SP Satish Dagar have also been transferred. They were probing the case against CBI's Rakesh Asthana. Tarun Gauba, who had earlier probed the Dera Sacha Sauda case, will now investigate allegations against Asthana. Apart from Gauba, SP Satish Dagar and Joint Director V Murugesan will probe charges against Asthana.

The feud between the two top men came to the notice after CBI lodged an FIR against Asthana on a complaint by Hyderabad-based businessman Sathish Babu Sana. Sana, who is also one of the key witnesses in the Moin Qureshi case,  which Ashthana was investigating.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 24, 2018 12:41 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).