Four men were arrested outside exiled CBI boss Alok Verma's home in Delhi today morning
Four men were arrested early morning today outside exiled CBI boss Alok Verma's home in Delhi. The men, who were allegedly outside the building. The men were caught allegedly snooping from parked cars, in continuing drama involving the country's main investigating agency. The spies were caught on camera and also arrested, in what can be perceived as a glimpse into what many would describe to be a sort of disconnect between various agencies.
Two of the men were found sitting in a car outside the gate of Mr Verma's home on 2 Janpath in one of the most high security zones of Delhi, at around 7:45 am. The other two spies were reportedly in a car near the back gate. Visuals on TV showed security officials dragging them by their shirts across the road.
Intelligence Bureau sources denied spying, saying it is "routine" to post its people in the area, which is very close to the 10 Janpath home of Congress leader Sonia Gandhi. "Would they carry I-cards if they were in covert intelligence," a top officer questioned.
The strange incident did end up fueling speculation of surveillance on Mr Verma, who was abruptly sent on forced leave yesterday and replaced by an interim chief, days after he launched an investigation against his deputy Rakesh Asthana, accusing him of corruption. Mr Asthana, who has been charged in a case filed by the CBI, has also been sent on leave.
Here are the highlights on the arrest of 4 men outside CBI chief Alok Verma's home:
Removal of CBI director illegal and criminal. He was removed because of he wanted to initiate inquiry into the Rafale scam
After four of its officials were dragged and pushed by security personnel at exiled CBI chief Alok Verma's Delhi home -- visuals of which were repeatedly shown on TV -- the Intelligence Bureau said on Thursday that its men were on "routine patrol".
The men, who had waited in two cars since last night outside the 2 Janpath bungalow, were caught and detained by Alok Verma's chief security officer this morning. They were accused by the officer of snooping on Mr Verma, who was sent on forced leave yesterday in a massive escalation of a war between the top two officials of the investigation agency.
Read here
Congress Accuses PM Modi's government of resorting to "snooping"
The Congress Thursday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his government of resorting to "snooping" on CBI Director Alok Verma to "cover-up" the Rafale 'scam', according to news agency Press Trust of India.
Suffering from "Rafale-o-phobia", Prime Minister Narendra Modi is indulging in "snooping, surveillance and spying" of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Leader of Congress in the Lok Sabha Mallikarjuna Kharge and senior leader Abhishek Singhvi said at a press conference, according to PTI.
There was no immediate reaction from the Prime Minister's Office on the allegations, the PTI report said.
"The CBI comes directly under PM, he should have acted swiftly," says Congress' Mallikarjun Kharge
"The CBI comes directly under the PM. He should have acted swiftly, and by taking everyone on board. How was he not aware of what was going on? And if he know, why was he silent about it?" questioned senior Congress leader and former Karnataka Chief Minister Mallikarjun Kharge.
"The director shall not be transferred without the approval of the committee, but no such meeting was called," he said.
"We tried to get Lokpal for 4 years, but they (BJP) has done nothing about it. The leader of the opposition has to be informed, but that wasn't done either. Maybe they were having sleepless nights over the Rafale issue," he added.
"Spy & Snoop in India is the only successful scheme of Modi Ji," tweets Tejashwi Yadav
"Spy & Snoop in India" is the only successful scheme of Modi Ji. On PMO's directions CBI & IB are on infiltrating spree for the benefit of Modi Ji. Did PM take oath to protect the privacy and freedom of its citizens or deliberately violate it through eavesdropping?" tweeted Tejashwi Yadav.
IB is entrusted with the responsibility of collecting intelligence on situations that may affect, inter alia, public order and internal security, the Intelligence Bureau tells NDTV.
Among other things, it's units are routinely deployed on a regular basis in sensitive areas.
At times, this is done in association with local law enforcement agencies or LEAs and at other times, a surprise element is also built in.
This also enables LEAs to respond immediately to developing situations.
Since such officials are on routine duties, they carry their identity cards.
This is unlike surveillance, which is done covertly, without any visible appurtenances.
One such unit, in early hours of today, halted on Janpath, where there was an unusual collection of people.
This was with a view to check the reason why people had collected at the location.
This is a high security zone where several protectees reside.
Unfortunately, their presence was projected otherwise.
Intelligence Bureau units are routinely deployed in high-security zones: Sources
Intelligence Bureau sources say there is no snooping. IB units are routinely deployed on open patrol duty on a regular basis in high-security zones in Delhi, the sources said.
The Supreme Court Thursday said that it would consider according urgent hearing to a PIL seeking court-monitored SIT probe into allegations of corruption against various CBI officials, including Rakesh Asthana, who was divested of his responsibilities as the agency's special director, according to news agency Press Trust of India.
A bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi considered the submission of lawyer Prashant Bhushan, appearing for NGO 'Common Cause' that there were wider issues of corruption affecting the probe agency and the PIL needed to be heard urgently, according to PTI.
The bench, which also comprised Justices SK Kaul and KM Joseph, asked Mr Bhushan to provide details and said it would consider granting urgent hearing on the petition.
The NGO has sought relief including court-monitored Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe into allegations of corruption against CBI officials including Asthana, who along with CBI Director Alok Kumar Verma had been divested of powers and sent on leave, according to PTI.
Fresh PIL filed in Supreme Court seeking SIT probe into allegations of corruption against CBI officials including Special Director Rakesh Asthana: news agency PTI
Police officials have taken away the four men, allegedly of the Intelligence Bureau, for questioning. It is not clear where they have been taken.
There were two cars, one at the front gate and one at the back gate. The men were watching the gate
"It is clear that Modi govt is panicking...Someone at the top is very very scared of Alok Verma !!" says Ashutosh
"After this snooping of Alok Verma, it is clear that Modi govt is panicking and nervous. Someone at the top is very very scared of Alok Verma !! Is there any thing more deep than it appears on the surface. Let me repeat the fight is not between Officers, but between two top guns," tweeted Ashutosh.
"What is going on? Is he (Alok Verma) a threat to the nation" asks Ashutosh on the four men arrested outside Alok Verma's home
In another tweet, Ashutosh questioned why the four men, allegedly from the Intelligence Bureau were "snooping around" CBI director Alok Verma's home.
CBIvsCBI: "Who's ordered this snooping? Who authorised this snooping?" says Ashutosh "This amounts to more serious crisis !! The man who ordered this snooping Modi Govt should sack the man and if buck stops at the top that man should go !" Ashutosh tweeted.
Read Here: When Investigations Weren't Suiting Government: Alok Verma's PetitionAlok Verma, the CBI chief who has been exiled into leave, has told the Supreme Court that the autonomy of the country's premier investigating agency is being compromised and by malintent that includes when "certain investigations into high functionaries do not take the direction that may be desirable to the government".
Four men who were seen outside residence of Alok Verma, taken away by Delhi police
News agency ANI tweeted this photo:
UPDATE: 4 men have been arrested outside Alok Verma's home
4 men are now said to have been arrested from outside exiled CBI director Alok Verma's home.
2 men, allegedly belonging to the Intelligence Bureau, were caught outside Alok Verma's Delhi home
Exiled CBI boss Alok Verma's security personnel have arrested two men who were allegedly keeping a watch on him.
