CBI Chief Alok Verma sacked: Read full notification of Government’s unprecedented move here 

Amid row between the number 1 and number 2 at CBI, the Centre has issued notification to appoint Joint Director M Nageshwar Rao as interim CBI director in an unprecedented move. Sources have now told Republic TV that 10th and 11th floor of the CBI Headquarters which have been sealed which host the offices of Director CBI, Special Director CBI and all Joint Directors CBI. Sealing has been done as a standard measure. The sources have also said that Nageshwar Rao took charge as CBI Interim Director around 2 am this morning.

The Department of Personnel and Training of the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions in its notification has said, "The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved that during the period of the subsistence of the aforesaid interim measure, Shri M Nageshwar Rao, IPS, presently working as Joint Director, CBI shall look after duties and functions of Director CBI and shall take over the duties and functions with immediate effect."

READ | MASSIVE: CBI Director Alok Verma Sacked; Joint Director M Nageshwar Rao Steps In As Government Acts

Earlier on Tuesday, CBI's DSP Devender Kumar, arrested in connection with bribery allegations involving its Special Director Rakesh Asthana, was on Tuesday sent to seven days of the agency's custody for interrogation by a designated court as the CBI added fresh charges of extortion and forgery to the FIR.

Terming the offence as "grave", special CBI Judge Santosh Snehi Mann said "considering the gravity of the offence and seriousness of allegations about the involvement of public servants including accused, I am of the opinion the police custody of accused Devender Kumar is necessary for proper investigation.

"Accused is remanded to police custody for seven days," the judge said in the order.

The court also turned down a plea taken by the counsel of the accused that the agency had not taken requisite prior permission under section 17-A of the prevention of corruption act from the competent authority.

During the proceedings, the agency also informed the court that it has added some fresh sections -- 384 (punishment for extortion), 388 (extortion by threat of accusation of an offence punishable with death or imprisonment for life), 389 (putting person in fear of accusation of offence, in order to commit extortion), 468 (forgery for purpose of cheating) and 471 (using as genuine a forged document or electronic record) -- of the IPC in its FIR.

Besides Asthana and Kumar, two middlemen Manoj Prasad and Somesh Prasad have also been named as accused in the case.

During the hearing before the trial court, the CBI said that Kumar's custodial interrogation was necessary to unearth the criminal conspiracy hatched by the accused persons in commission of the offence and their specific roles.

It said that during the searches conducted by the CBI at the office chamber and residential premises of the accused, a number of documents have been seized.

The agency alleged that the accused tried to create false evidence during investigation of the other case and has refused to cooperate in the investigation.