NEW DELHI: Senior lawyer Prashant Bhushan said that he will legally challenge the government's order that has sent CBI director Alok Verma on leave.

Terming the order as illegal, Bhushan alleged that Verma was removed because he was involved in a feud with CBI special director Rakesh Asthana, "who was foisted on CBI by PMO despite being investigated by the CBI itself in corruption cases".

“We will challenge it soon in Supreme Court. He has a fixed tenure and only the same committee that appointed him could remove him prematurely, if any disciplinary issues are found. The committee was to ensure that the position stays away from government powers,” the senior Supreme Cour Lawyer said.

It was reported earlier that the Narendra Modi government had put a stop to the feud between CBI Director Alok Verma and Special Director Rakesh Asthana by ordering them both to go on leave. Joint director Nageshwara Rao has been appointed as the interim chief.

Such support by Bhushan might be considered paradoxical by many as the lawyer had gone to the Supreme Court against Verma’s appointment as CBI chief earlier.

As reported by Press Trust of India in 2017, Bhushan while representing an NGO that had demanded that the minutes of the meeting be disclosed where the decision was taken to appoint Verma as the CBI chief.

Bhushan reportedly wanted access to determine whether Verma’s appointment was made as per law and procedures laid down by the Supreme Court.

The apex court had eventually refused to interfere into the matter and questioned why was Bhushan pushing for something which was over.