Alok Verma likely to lose his pension

New Delhi: Ousted CBI director Alok Verma is likely to face departmental action for defying a government order asking him to join as chief of fire services on Thursday, the day of his superannuation, and this may include suspension of pensionary benefits, officials said.

According to the officials, this non-compliance of the directive amounted to violation of service rules for all India services officers.

The MHA had directed Mr Verma to take charge as director general of the fire services, civil defence and home guards on Thursday.

As Mr Verma did not take up the new assignment as directed, he is likely to face departmental action which may include suspension of pensionary benefits, MHA officials said.

In a letter sent to Mr Verma on Wednesday, the MHA said, “You are directed to join the post of DG, fire services, civil defence & home guards immediately.”

In response to the letter the same day, Mr Verma reiterated his position that he stands superannuated from the post of director, CBI, from January 10, 2019 evening.

In his response to R.S. Vaidya, deputy secretary in the home ministry, Mr Verma said his date of birth from the official records is July 14, 1957, which implies that date of superannuation was July 31, 2017.

“The undersigned has already crossed the age of 61 years and continued to serve even after his superannuation date as director, CBI, which is a tenure post for a period of two years,” Mr Verma wrote in a letter accessed by PTI.

He said since he ceased to be director of CBI from the evening of January 10, 2019, and has already crossed 60 years, he stands superannuated from the post of director, CBI, with effect from the evening of January 10, 2019.