4 IB men caught outside CBI chief's Janpath home

New Delhi: Four men belonging to the Intelligence Bureau were held outside the official residence of CBI director Alok Verma, officials said Thursday.

While Home Ministry officials said the four men were on "routine, covert" duties in the high-security area outside Verma's 2 Janpath residence, police sources said the men were interrogated.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (New Delhi) Madhur Verma denied that police had detained and questioned them.

The IB is entrusted with the responsibility of collecting intelligence on situations that may affect public order and internal security. Among other things, its units are "routinely" deployed in "sensitive areas", a Home Ministry official said.

At times, this is done in association with local law enforcement agencies, and at other times, a surprise element is built in, he added.

This also enables law enforcement agencies to respond immediately to developing situations. The officials carry their identity cards since they are on "routine duties", he explained.

"This is unlike surveillance, which is done without any visible appurtenances. One unit, in the early hours of Thursday, halted at Janpath where there was an unusual collection of people," the official said.

This was to check why people had collected at the location.

"This is a high-security zone where several protectees reside. Unfortunately, their presence was projected otherwise," another official said.

The Intelligence Bureau is reportedly miffed at the way its men were treated. It is planning to lodge an FIR against the PSOs of the CBI director as they harassed the IB officials even after they furnished their identity cards. The Deputy Commissioner of Police (New Delhi) Madhur Verma said that they had not received any such complaint from the IB.

Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and NCP chief Sharad Pawar live near the CBI director's official residence.

The CBI on Thursday said Alok Verma would remain its Director and the agency's number two Rakesh Asthana will continue as the Special Director, while M Nageshwar Rao has been given interim charge of the agency.