In a stunning overnight 'coup' by the government, the CBI's warring top two officers, Alok Verma and his deputy Rakesh Asthana, were sent on leave. M Nageswar Rao has been appointed as an interim chief. His first act after his late-night promotion was to sign orders shifting several members of a team investigating corruption charges against Rakesh Asthana.

"The decision to remove the director, special director was taken to restore institutional integrity and credibility of CBI," said Union Minister Arun Jaitley, articulating the government's first response to questions raised by the opposition.

"To maintain the fairness of an impartial probe...it was necessary that the two senior-most officers involved must sit out on leave till an impartial investigation is complete," Mr Jaitley said.

Meanwhile, Rahul Gandhi said the CBI chief Alok Verma was sent on leave because he was "collecting papers of Rafale scam". The Congress President ramped up his attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the controversial Rafale fighter jet deal. He tweeted saying, "The Prime Minister's message is clear, whoever comes near Rafale will be removed, wiped out. The country and the constitution are in danger."

Here are the highlights on the massive infighting within the CBI: