Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, on Saturday moved the Supreme Court seeking direction against the sending CBI Director Alok Verma on a forced leave, calling it 'completely illegal, arbitrary, punitive, without jurisdiction.'
Speaking to ANI, Kharge said, "I have filed a petition before the Supreme Court, requesting them to quash the order of Centre because it is illegal. They should have called a meeting of the three-member committee of the leader of the opposition, Prime Minister and the Chief Justice of India. Without a meeting, without committee's consent, they overnight asked him (CBI Director) to go on leave indefinitely."
He further added, "This a violation of Central Bureau of Investigation Act. Central Vigilance Commission also violated rules by asking him to go on leave. Therefore we thought when violation is there it is clear-cut Prime Minister's Office's direct involvement in autonomous bodies. So I have challenged that have filed the petition. Let's see what happens."
Senior Congress leader Abhishek Singhvi on October 24 said that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led central government had asked Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Director Alok Verma to go on leave fearing he would expose the alleged corruption in the multi-billion dollar Rafale jet deal.