MASSIVE: CBI Director Alok Verma sacked; Joint Director M Nageshwar Rao steps in as government acts. All LIVE updates here-

Update at 7.12 pm: This has happened for the first time in CBI's history. This is unfortunate. The government has become totally desperate with Rafale. The CVC can't act as per the direction of the government. The Government has totally demolished the CBI: Veerappa Moily, Congress

Update at 7.09 pm: Anna Hazare on CBI row: It's this country's misfortune

Update at 6.13 pm:

Update at 5.48 pm: After CBI. ED and Delhi police, action may be taken upon a top R&AW officer who has also been named in the FIR

Update at 5.46 pm: The CVC has absolutely no jurisdiction. The CVC or the government have no powers on this. The DoPT has been taking their supervisory powers a little too far. This makes functioning of an independent agency very difficult: Gopal Sankarnarayan, Alok Verma's lawyer

Update at 5.44 pm: The law does not provide for forced leave, suspension, divestment of powers, anything. The only leeway is transfer of the director and the transfer needs to be done with the consent of the committee: Gopal Sankarnarayan, Alok Verma's lawyer

Update at 5.42 pm: Alok Verma not answerable to the government or anybody else under this statutory protection. There is no question of any forced leave as far as the director of the CBI is concerned: Gopal Sankarnarayan, Alok Verma's lawyer

Update at 5.41 pm: The order by the CVC violates the law. Alok Verma has a statutory protection under the law: Gopal Sankarnarayan, Alok Verma's lawyer

 Update at 5.35 pm:

Update at 5.23 pm:The image of Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) will not be tarnished as CBI is for country not for individuals, whatever investigation required is being done: CBI Spokesperson

Update at 5.17 pm: It's a matter of great public importance that facts & circumstances which have given rise to such extraordinary&unprecedented situation are enquired into independently & before any further erosions to the credibility of the institution: Department of Personnel & Training (DoPT)

Update at 5.08 pm: PM removed the CBI Director to stop him from investigating Rafale. Mr 56 broke the law when he bypassed CJI & LOP. Mr Modi, Rafale is a deadly aircraft with a superb radar. You can run, but you can't hide from It: Rahul Gandhi

Update at 5.04 pm: There is no scope of groupism. Our aim is to have a free and fair investigation. That will be our aim: CBI

Update at 4.47 pm: Team probing Rakesh Asthana’s case has been reconstituted for a fair, impartial and expeditious probe. We have put available best resources including JD, DIG & SP in the reconstituted team. CBI is united and nothing amiss: CBI Spokesperson

Update at 3.50 pm: Republic accesses Alok Verma's petition in Supreme Court. 

"Law mandates secured 2 year tenure of CBI Director to ensure independence. Decision of transfer of CBI Director rests with high powered Committee. Centre's decision goes against SC directions for an independent CBI": Alok Verma's plea in Supreme Court against him being sent on leave.

READ | In Supreme Court Plea Against "patently Illegal" Leave Order, CBI Director Alok Verma Mentions 'probe Undesirable To Government', Rakesh Asthana's 'complicity', And Making CBI Independent

Update at 3.37 pm: Left links CBI overhaul with Rafale scam. CPIM general secretary Sitaram Yechury says, 'It's a Coup. It's political & administrative Coup masterminded by Modi Government against its basic institutions of the country. And this has its roots in Rafael scam and other financial frauds'

Update at 3.27 pm: Misuse of govt machinery & interference in CBI's functioning have earlier also caused disasters & ongoing disturbance at CBI is a matter of great concern for the nation. It's good that the matter that also had interference of central govt, is before the SC now: BSP chief Mayawati

Update at 3.05 pm: The Director, CBI has been non-cooperative with the Commission, non-compliant with the requirements / directions of the Commission and has created willful obstructions in the functioning of the Commission which is a Constitutional body: CVC

READ | CVC Issues Statement On CBI Top Officials Alok Verma And Rakesh Asthana Being Sent On Leave

Update at 2.46 pm: Institutions like CBI, CVC, judiciary, Election Commission are pillars of democracy. It is really sad that the chiefs of the topmost investigation agency are accusing each other of corruption. This is a big issue for the upcoming Parliament Session: Arvind Sawant, Shiv Sena MP

Update at 2.17 pm: All sensitive cases including Vijay Mallya and Agusta Westland cases will be personally supervised by new interim Central Bureau of Investigation chief Nageshwar Rao.

Update at 1.57 pm: Giriraj Singh on Rahul Gandhi's remarks on CBI feud: Rahul Gandhi speaks only lie. He speaks lie like Hitler's minister Goebbels.

Update at 1.45 pm: Congress President Rahul Gandhi links Rafale to CBI feud.

Update at 1.27 pm: CVC doesn't have any locus standi to appoint or to remove any CBI Director: Congress

Update at 1.26 pm: CVC has been misused by this government: Congress

Update at 12:33 pm: I regard the Opposition charge against the Government as rubbish. This government acts on fact and hence took a decision at 2 am last night: FM Arun Jaitley

Update at 12:30 pm: Yesterday, in a meeting of the CVC, they recommended that for fair-play, these two officers should go on leave and a new SIT, which is not under the supervision of these officers, will probe the matter. The Government only passed the order recommended by the CVC as only the CVC has the right to probe: FM Arun Jaitley

Update at 12:27 pm: CBI is the premier investigative agency of India and maintenance of its institutional integrity is absolutely essential. I don't want to comment on the merit of the case, as who is right - no. 1 or no. 2. CVC has the power to probe and to investigate this. The government doesn't have this power. In relation to the Prevention of Corruption Act, only CVC has the power to probe: FM Arun Jaitley

Update at 12.00 pm: The entire list of the team which will probe Asthana case:

1. Manish Kumar Sinha DIG AC3 and BS&FC New Delhi transfer to ACB Nagpur 

2 . Tarun Gauba DIG ACB Chandigarh transferred to AC3 Delhi in place of Manish Sinha 

3. DIG special crime 1 Jasbir Singh to hold add charge of HOB BS&FC 

4. Anees prasad DIG surveillance unit posted from surveillance unit 1 to the administration and personnel wing. 

5. KR Chaurasia HOb of economic offences 1 to hold additional charge of DIG surveillance unit 1 

6. Ram Gopal HOb of SCB Chandigarh to hold additional charge of HOB ACB Chandigarh 

7. Satish Dagar SP economic offences 3 is transferred to AC3 

8. Ak Bassi DY SP cbi AC3 transfer to port Blair anti corruption branch 

9. S S gurm addition sp cbi AC3 delhi transfer ACB Jabalpur 

10. Arun kumar sharma JD policy is transferred JD MDMA 

11. A sai manohar head of zone / JD Chandigarh with hq in delhi to hold additional charge of SIT and TFC zone 

12. V murugesan head of zone AC2 (HQ) to hold add charge of HOZ /JD AC1 (HQ) 

13. Amit kumar DIG HOB EO3 to hold add charge of the office of JD policy

Update at 11.59 am: The new team that will probe the Asthana case will comprise of Satish Dagar, SP, Tarun Gauba, DIG and V Murugesan, Joint Director.

Update at 11.59 am: New team has been put in place to handle the Asthana case, after the government has decided to transfer the previous Investigating Officer Bassi to Port Blair.

Update at 11:33 am: Government plans to crackdown on ED and Delhi police officers who were part of lobbies: Sources

Update at 11:30 am: 13 CBI officers, in total, have been transferred in a massive CBI clean up: Sources

Update at 11:16 am: In a complete shake-up of CBI, several officers transferred. Here's the list: 

Update at 11:16 am: Addl. SP CBI SS Gurm has been transferred to Jabalpur

Update at 11.02 am: In a massive overhaul, Dy SP CBI Ajay Bassi has been transferred to Port Blair. Bassi was investigating cases against Asthana

Update at 10.50 am: While the 10th and 11th floor of CBI Headquarters were sealed this morning, the floors are now open for officers to enter: Sources

Update at 10.48 am: Institutional integrity is of paramount importance. It is a good move that both of them (Alok Verma and Asthana) have been sent on leave: Mahesh Jethmalani, Senior Advocate

Update at 10.37 am: Alok Verma moves Supreme Court against government order. Alok Verma mentions case in Court number 1 of the Supreme Court. The case is listed for Friday.

Update at 10.35 am: I support the government's decision to keep Alok Verma and Asthana aside and the appoint a new director for CBI: Pawan Verma, JDU

Update at 10.32 am: Sources: Interim Chief Nageshwar Rao is likely to come in to the CBI headquarters shortly.

Update at 10.30 am: Rakesh Asthana case's Investigating Officer Ajay Bassi has been summoned to the CBI headquarters.

Update at 10.20 am: 'Alok Verma seeks legal advice, likely to move Supreme Court on Wednesday', say sources. The sources have also said that Advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan will be the counsel for Alok Verma.

Update at 10.00 am:  Searches were carried out at Alok Verma and Rakesh Asthana’s office. Nageshwar Rao left from the CBI HQs after the searches were carried out

Update at 9.48 am: The matter is in court, we have to wait for the evidence. I'm more concerned about the charges on these officers. This can have an adverse affect in the Chidambaram case and other cases as well: Subramanian Swamy

Update at 9.28 am: The illegal removal of CBI Chief by Modi government to protect their own handpicked officer, against whom serious charges of corruption are being investigated, points to attempts at a serious cover-up to protect his direct links to the BJP's top political leadership: Sitaram Yechury 

Update at 9.10 am: Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala questions government's move.

Update at 9.00 am: Nageshwar Rao took charge around 2am and immediately ordered sealing of the floors. Rao has gone back to his residence now and will return in a short while. New team for the investigation is not decided as yet.

Update at 8.56 am: Implications of the Government's move:
1 - CBI chief and his deputy will be examined 
2 - new team to handle sensitive cases
3 - top CBI officials replaced as part of shake up 
4 - all investigating officers looking at Asthana case replaced 
5 - cases against Asthana are on fast track

Update at 8.33 am: Prashant Bhushan, who had met Alok Verma earlier this month on Rafale, will challenge the government order for change of CBI Director.

Update at 8.24 am:  10th floor and 11th floor of CBI Headquarters which have been sealed host the offices of Director CBI, Special Director CBI and all Joint Directors CBI. Sealing has been done as a standard measure. 

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In a massive development amid the ongoing internal war within the CBI, the government has taken action and sent Director CBI (DCBI) Alok Verma on leave.  In a circular that has been accessed by Republic, the Department of Personnel and Training of the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, has appointed CBI Joint Director M Nageshwar Rao to take over the duties and functions of the Director CBI in the interim. 

Here is the circular:

READ | Rakesh Asthana Vs Alok Verma: The Internal War In The CBI Explained

The move comes amid the backdrop of the top two officials of  India's top investigative agency -- Director Alok Verma and Special Director Rakesh Asthana making bribery allegations against one another, with the latter even having a case filed against him.