CBI at war with itself, Rahul Gandhi attacks PM Modi

While targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi over an internal conflict in Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Congress president Rahul Gandhi labelled the top investigative agency to be “at war with itself”.

Rahul Gandhi also alleged that the CBI has become a “weapon of political vendetta” and is now in a state of “terminal decline”.

“The PM’s blue-eyed boy, Gujarat cadre officer, of Godra SIT fame, infiltrated as No. 2 into the CBI, has now been caught taking bribes. Under this PM, the CBI is a weapon of political vendetta. An institution in terminal decline that’s at war with itself,” Mr Gandhi tweeted citing a media report.

Previously the Congress has attacked the prime minister over the appointment of Asthana as CBI special director.

Rakesh Asthana, a 1984-batch officer of Gujarat cadre, was head of the state’s Special Investigation Team (SIT) that probed the burning of Sabarmati Express in Godhra in February 2002.

The PM’s blue-eyed boy, Gujarat cadre officer, of Godra SIT fame, infiltrated as No. 2 into the CBI, has now been caught taking bribes. Under this PM, the CBI is a weapon of political vendetta. An institution in terminal decline that’s at war with itself. https://t.co/Z8kx41kVxX

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) October 22, 2018

The CBI has also registered an FIR against second-in-command Rakesh Asthana, who is considered being close to PM Modi, for allegedly taking bribe of Rs. 3 Crore from a Dubai-based businessman in meat exporter Moin Qureshi graft case. The CBI has also named CBI has named Deputy Superintendent of Police Devender Kumar and Samant Kumar Goel, Special Director of RAW, but not as an accused.

Earlier, Asthana had filed a complaint to the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) accusing CBI Director Alok Verma of interfering in the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation corruption case involving family members of Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Lalu Prasad. Mr Asthana has since filed a dozen complaints against the CBI director.

In relation to actions to be taken against Mr Verma and Asthana in the ongoing battle, government officials mentioned that as the CVC supervises the functioning of the CBI, it is up to the CVC to decide on the matter.