48 hours after his reinstatement by the Supreme Court, CBI director Alok Verma sacked

Barely two days after he was reinstated by the Supreme Court, CBI director Alok Verma has been removed from his position. The decision was taken after a meeting of a selection committee led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The meeting took place at the prime minister’s residence today, after meeting first late on Wednesday night. Verma had been sent on forced leave in October.

Scroll reports that the committee also includes Justice AK Sikri and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge. Kharge had said Verma “should be given an opportunity to appear before the committee and represent his case”.

The committee had initially included Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi who dropped out on January 9 and nominated Justice Sikri instead.

The Supreme Court had stated, while reinstating Verma, that he should “cease and desist from taking any major policy decision until the Committee takes a decision”. Hours after he reassumed his office, Verma had revoked most of the transfer orders issued by the interim director M Nageshwar Rao. Verma is set to retire on January 31.