According to a CBI source, the drama began at 10.30 pm, when Joginder Singh appeared as the only one in a hurry in a crowd consisting of senior IPS officers. The occasion was the send-off party for the just retired director general of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).
Joginder Singh told his colleagues that he could not stay any longer as he had to meet the law minister right away. Singh went to Khalap's residence straight from the party and took the order in writing that the CBI should not oppose the bail of former Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao when the case came up for hearing the next morning.
Singh then called Anand Kumar, Joint Director (economic) and asked him to take Khalap's letter to CBI counsel Gopal Subramaniam right away. By the time Singh reached Subramaniam's residence, it was well past midnight.
Gopalaswamy chose to reject the order and sat down straightaway to write his resignation. By 1 O'clock, he had quit as the counsel for the CBI.
After Anand Kumar informed his CBI boss of the explosive news, a frantic search for a new counsel to represent the agency eight hours later ensued.
Altaf Ahmed was woken up at 2.30 in the morning to requested to appear for the CBI. He agreed.
