The Congress Wednesday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of interfering in the working of the CBI and alleged that its Director Alok Verma was "sacked" to stop him from probing corruption in the Rafale 'scam'.
Congress President Rahul Gandhi also alleged that the prime minister "broke the law" and "bypassed" the Chief Justice of India and the Leader of Opposition, who were part of the panel that selected the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) chief.
There was no immediate reaction from the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) on the allegations.
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, however, dismissed as "rubbish" the allegations that Verma was removed because he wanted to look into the Rafale fighter jet deal and said the decision was based on the Central Vigilance Commission's (CVC) recommendations.
Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said the Modi government has put the "last nail" in the independence of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) by removing Verma.
"Systematic dismantling and denigrating of CBI is now complete. Once a premier investigating agency, PM ensures that CBI's integrity, credibility and reliability is 'buried and dead'," he wrote on Twitter.
"Has the CBI Director been sacked for his keenness to probe the layers of corruption in Rafale Scam? Isn't the rest a shoddy cover up? Let PM answer," he said in another tweet.
Another party leader Abhishek Singhvi, during a press conference, said the CVC has no power to interfere in removal, appointment or reappointment, and is a supervisory body.
The Modi government and senior BJP leaders, scared over the Rafale issue, have implemented the 'Gujarat model' at the Centre and in the CBI, he said, adding that the CBI was made "lame duck and paralysed" by this government only to support and an accused of extortion charge.
"We charge the Prime Minister and the ruling BJP and its president for doing so to control the premier investigating agency, to get its dirty jobs done and in particular to avoid the day of reckoning arising from Rafale-o-phobia," he said.
Singhvi also alleged that the government violated the CBI Act in removing Verma. He said CVC has no power to appoint or disappoint and has no power to interfere in removal, appointment, and re-appointment too.
This 'direct interference' in an ongoing criminal investigation, "is a direct violation of the law of the land", which is clear that even the President of India cannot call an investigating officer and say anything about an investigation, he said.
"An illegal, unconstitutional and illegitimate coup d'tat in the CBI by the Modi-Shah duo has shamed India, has shamed all Indian institutions. It is very clear that the Prime Minister is experiencing 'Rafale-o-phobia'," he alleged.
Former law minister M Veerappa Moily said the removal of the CBI director was "illegal, unethical and unconstitutional" and against the set norms and practices.
Attacking the prime minister, Gandhi tweeted, "PM removed the CBI Director to stop him from investigating Rafale. Mr 56 broke the law when he bypassed CJI and LOP.
"Mr Modi, Rafale is a deadly aircraft with a superb radar. You can run, but you can't hide from It."
In an earlier tweet, he said, "CBI Chief Alok Verma was collecting documents relating to the Rafale scam. He was forcibly sent on leave."
"The Prime Minister's message is very clear that whoever comes near Rafale (issue) will be removed, wiped out," Gandhi charged, claiming that the country and the Constitution were in danger.
Addressing a poll rally at Jhalawar in Rajasthan, Gandhi alleged that Verma was removed because the agency was raising questions over the Rafale fighter jet deal.
The Congress party on its official Twitter handle asked, "Why has the government removed CBI Director Alok Verma of his charge and sealed his offices? Who are they protecting and what are they hiding?"
Surjewala alleged in a tweet: "Scared of the Rafale Scam probe, Modi ji is killing India's premier investigation agency."
"Officers are being removed in hordes and fascism prevails. Can't save the sinking 'Sultanate' by it. Modiji, why are you so scared of the Rafale probe? he said.
He also alleged that Modi feared the top officer might take steps that could "hurt" him in the Rafale "scam" and has pushed the CBI into complete "disintegration".
He said the government "panicked" because Verma was likely to file an FIR in the Rafale issue based on complaints received by the investigating agency.
He also sought an "explanation" from the prime minister over the overnight removal of the CBI director.
Surjewala also hit out at Finance Minister Jaitley and Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad for putting out a "weak defence of cleaning the system to justify the prime minister's panic reaction on the Rafale scam".
"In order to save the prime minister, the finance minister and the law minister are taking ra refuge behind a bogus apology by giving explanation of a fraud equivalence.
The Congress leader also termed the transfer of the agency's Deputy SP Ajay Bassi to Port Blair as "Saja-E-Kala paani by an autocratic Modi ji".
"Illegality, interference and unconstitutionality of Modi government has hit a 'new low'. Speaking truth to power has become a crime under this dictatorial regime," Surjewala tweeted.
The prime minister has demonstrated the true colour of his infamous 'Modi Made Gujarat Model' by "this cloak-and-dagger mugging" of the CBI, he alleged.
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