Justice Sikri, whose vote ousted Alok Verma from CBI, told PM Modi he didn't want to be on select panel

After a political turmoil over the removal of ex-CBI director Alok Verma, Justice A.K Sikri, who denied a plum posting offered by the government has claimed that he had requested PM Modi, not to be a part of select panel.

As per the sources, Justice Sikri was nominated by the Government of India to join the London-based Commonwealth Secretariat Arbitral Tribunal but he turned down the offer as he was pained that it was being connected with the Alok Verma’s case and his fallout from the CBI.

“The government had approached him for the assignment last month. He gave his consent. The job required attending two to three hearings in a year and came without any remuneration,” said sources who are close to judge to the NDTV.

Rahul Gandhi targeted the government by mentioning The Print story and tweeted, “When the scales of justice are tampered with, anarchy reigns. This PM will stop at nothing, stoop to anything & destroy everything, to cover up the Rafale Scam. He’s driven by fear. It’s this fear that is making him corrupt & destroy key institutions.”

Former Attorney General Mukul Rohtagi said upon the incident that “There is no connection between the two issues and people who don''t know the facts and circumstances under which the two things happened - giving consent for assignment at London-based Commonwealth Secretariat Arbitral Tribunal and his nomination by the CJI in the Prime Minister-led panel on the former CBI chief issue - are instrumental in making allegations which are utterly false and malicious.”

Justice Sikri, 65, the 2nd most senior judge of the Supreme Court, is bound to retire from his post on March 06 this year.

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