Follow us on: facebook.com/dailypioneer RNI No.2016/1957, REGD NO. SSP/LW/NP-34/2016-18 @TheDailyPioneer instagram.com/dailypioneer/ Established 1864 OPINION 8 Published From WORLD 12 SPORT 15 DELHI LUCKNOW BHOPAL AGAINST THE ODDS: HASPEL BRIEFS TRUMP ON FEDERER ADVANCES IN BHUBANESWAR RANCHI RAIPUR ELECTIONS IN AFGHANISTAN KHASHOGGI MURDER PROBE SWISS INDOOR TOURNEY CHANDIGARH DEHRADUN Late City Vol. 154 Issue 289 LUCKNOW, SATURDAY OCTOBER 27, 2018; PAGES 16 `3 *Air Surcharge Extra if Applicable WE NEED TO EMPHASISE ON SPORTS:} AKSHAY} 14 VIVACITY www.dailypioneer.com Probe Verma in 2 weeks: SC Court asks CVC to stick to deadline, CVC’S TASK: CHARGES AGAINST CBI DIRECTOR ALOK VERMA bars CBI interim chief from taking 2 In his letter, CBI Special Director Rakesh Asthana alleged that Satish Babu Sana, who was investigated policy decisions; hearing on Nov 12 by the CBI in Moin Qureshi case, paid Director Alok Verma `2 crore to get a clean chit in the case. PNS n NEW DELHI of the country,” it said. The Interestingly, Asthana himself has been accused of internal crisis in the CBI is receiving money to give relief to Sana. The case took he Supreme Court on unprecedented in the 55-year a curious turn when CBI arrested its own DSP TFriday asked the Central history of the country’s premier Devendar Kumar for forging Sana’s statement to Vigilance Commission (CVC) probe agency. implicate the CBI Director in the graft case. Asthana to complete its probe against The court made it clear the also alleged that that Verma tried to scuttle his Central Bureau of Investigation supervision of the probe by a efforts to arrest Sana by referring the file to the (CBI) Director Alok Verma, former SC judge was a “one- Director of Prosecution on September 24, 2018, who has been divested of time exception” given the who demanded all evidence available on record power and sent on leave by the “peculiar facts” of the case and 2 IRCTC scam: Asthana alleged that Verma asked him to recall a team sent to conduct searches in the IRCTC Government, and appointed does not cast reflection on any scam in order to favour former Bihar CM Lalu Prasad. It’s different matter that the CBI subsequently carried Justice (retd) AK Patnaik to authority of the Government. the raids and also filed chargesheets in the case monitor the enquiry by the “We make it clear that anti-corruption watchdog. entrustment of supervision of 2 Through separate letters to CVC on October 18 and 19, Asthana charged Verma with meddling with eight “The enquiry in respect of ongoing enquiry by the CVC to others cases and sought that these be transferred to SIT the allegations made in the a former judge of this court is note/letter of the Cabinet a one-time exception which has 2 Asthana also accused Verma of meddling in the probe into the INX Media and coal scams Secretary dated August 24, been felt necessary by this 2 Asthana further alleged that there was a “concerted” efforts by Verma and Enforcement Directorate Joint 2018 as regards Verma shall be court in the peculiar facts of Director Rajeshwar Singh and others to tarnish his image by leaking certain documents containing completed by the CVC within this case and should not be unverified, unsubstantiated information as well as making malicious insinuations/allegations against him a period of two weeks from understood to be casting any today,” the Bench noted in its reflection on any authority of 2 Asthana also expressed apprehension that Verma “may” spoil his Annual Performance Appraisal Report for Congress president Rahul Gandhi and senior party leaders march towards the CBI headquarters during a protest demanding order. the Government of India,” said the year ending March, 2018, to adversely affect his career prospects the reinstatement of CBI Director Alok Verma in New Delhi on Friday Alwin Singh | Pioneer The SC also barred the the Bench, also comprising interim CBI Director Justices SK Kaul and KM being considered close to sions taken by him. the process of conducting Nageshwar Rao from taking Joseph. Verma. The Bench sought enquiry and keeping in view any “policy” or “any major The CVC has the authori- Also, Rao constituted a responses from the Centre and the large number of docu- decision” even as it fixed ty of superintendence over the new three-member team to the CVC on the plea of Verma, ments involved, 10 days time Rahul leads from front as November 12 as the next date CBI in cases relating to the probe the FIR against Asthana who has also sought a stay on would not be sufficient to com- of hearing. Prevention of Corruption case. in order to be impartial. the Centre’s order giving inter- plete the inquiry. The Bench headed by Rao was given interim The court made it clear im charge of his post to Rao. Senior advocate Fali S Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi charge of looking after the that from now on Rao, who is However, this prayer was not Nariman, appearing for Verma, also said all the decisions taken duties of the CBI Director after a Joint Director of CBI, would raised during the hearing. said the CBI Director was Cong pickets CBI offices by Rao from October 23 till both Verma and Asthana were only perform the routine tasks Meanwhile, Asthana also appointed for a two-year tenure October 26, including on trans- sent on leave and barred from that are essential to keep the moved the Supreme Court with the approval of a selection PNS n NEW DELHI Lodhi Road police station. Massive protests were fer of investigations and change carrying out any supervisory CBI functional. with a separate petition in the panel comprising the Prime Delhi-type protests were reported from all States, includ- of investigating officers, be role of the agency on the mid- During the hearing, the matter challenging the Minister, the Leader of he Congress on Friday replicated in other parts of the ing large participation by party placed before it in a sealed night of October 23. court at first remarked that Government order to send Opposition and the Chief Tstaged a day-long country- country where State Congress workers in Punjab, Haryana, cover by the next date of hear- Shortly after taking charge decisions taken by Rao since him on leave and divesting him Justice of India. wide protest in front of CBI leaders led demonstrations in Karnataka, Assam, ing. The court also observed it on the intervening night of October 23 are not to be imple- of his functions. The question is whether offices across the country led by their regions against what the Maharashtra and Gujarat. did not want the CBI issue Tuesday and Wednesday earli- mented but later it ordered that Solicitor General Tushar the tenure could be breached at its party chief Rahul Gandhi Congress described as the “ille- Senior Congress leaders, before the court to linger on. er this week, Rao transferred 13 it would decide on that aspect Mehta, appearing for the CVC, any time?,” Nariman asked against the Centre’s order to gal, unconstitutional and ille- including Ashok Gehlot, “This is not in the interest officers with most of them only after perusing the deci- said the commission was under from the court. send CBI Director Alok Verma gitimate removal of the CBI Ahmed Patel, Motilal Vora, on forced leave. director by the Modi that has Veerappa Moily and Anand CAPSULE Congress workers led by shamed India and its premier Sharma took part in the march, Rahul took to the streets in investigative agency”. along with Sharad Yadav, D PM hopes for better farm sector scope New Delhi’s Lodi Road area, TMC Rajya Sabha member Raja and Nadimul Haque. PETROL PRICE CUT BY ` 2, where the CBI headquarters is Nadimul Haque, CPI leader Rahul said people are on DIESEL BY `1 IN 8 DAYS located, and demanded an and Upper House member D the streets to show the PM “the New Delhi: Petrol price has been PNS n LUCKNOW in coming days. apology from the PM. He Raja, and Loktantrik Janata mirror of reality”. “No matter cut by nearly `2 per litre and The PM expressed confi- alleged that “the PM stole Dal leader Sharad Yadav too how hard the Government diesel by `1 a litre in the last rime Minister Narendra dence that the farmers would money from the country” and joined the Congress in the tries, it will not be able to cage eight days on the back of softer PModi on Friday expressed pave the way for new technol- can run but not hide from the protest against the Modi the truth,” he tweeted. international rates, an official confidence that farmers would ogy to be imbibed and better truth. Rahul courted arrest at Government’s CBI decisions. Continued on Page 7 statement said on Friday. pave the way for imbibing of opportunities to be created in new technology and hoped the agriculture sector. He said RAJAPAKSA SWORN IN that better opportunities would this time the farmers would get MoD spokesperson AS NEW PM OF LANKA be created in the agriculture increased price for their crops Eight killed Colombo: In a dramatic political sector. as the Minimum Support Price development in Sri Lanka, Inaugurating Krishi of 21 Rabi and Kharif crops had shunted as her tweet former strongman Mahinda Kumbh 2018, a mega conclave been increased. The PM appre- in Baduan Rajapaksa was on Friday sworn of farmers and agricultural ciated the UP government for in as the new Prime Minister by experts in Lucknow through its efforts in augmenting sub- insults war veteran President Maithripala Sirisena video conferencing from Delhi stantially the procurement of firecracker after his party abruptly quit the on Friday, the Prime Minister foodgrains.