Former CBI chief Alok Verma dropped as guest speaker by SRCC

Former Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) director Alok Verma, who fought the Modi government because of his removal from the post of CBI chief on October 23, will not be speaking at an event at Sri Ram College of Commerce (SRCC).

India Today TV has learnt that his invite as keynote speaker for college's business conclave has been withdrawn.

Verma, who resigned from the post of CBI chief on January 11, was invited by the Sri Ram College of Commerce in New Delhi as keynote speaker on February 14 for college's business conclave.

People privy to the information have told India Today TV Verma had then accepted the invite. The business conclave organised by SRCC is an annual event which is held from February 14 to 16.

In 2013, the then Gujarat CM, Narendra Modi had addressed the students.

The invite has top Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders and ministers - Nirmala Sitharaman, Smriti Irani and Sunil Prabhu.

However, reasons behind Verma's withdrawal of invite are not clear.

SRCC management said, "An invitation was sent to Mr Alok Verma when he was holding his office. Post this CBI controversy, we had to revoke his invitation, absolutely under no pressure from anybody. SRCC has always refrained itself from calling people who are associated with controversies. That's the only concern."

Verma was sent on forced leave by the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) and government on October 23, 2018 over charges of corruption by his deputy Rakesh Asthana.

Alok Verma challenged the order of his removal before the apex court and in a major setback to the Modi government, Verma was reinstated by the Supreme Court on January 8. However, the PM-led selection panel again removed Verma from the post of CBI director on January 10 who was set to retire on January 31, 2019.