Social media was abuzz with #CBIvsCBI as the Central Bureau of Investigation, the premier detective agency of India witnessed something unprecedented.
Twitter went into a frenzy with politicians and journalists among others voicing their opinions.
Here’s how journalists reacted:
Alok Verma to SC: Need for an independent #CBI. Present circumstances occured when "certain investigation into high functionaries do not take the direction that may be desirable to the government" @the_hindu@abaruah64
— Krishnadas Rajagopal (@kdrajagopal) October 24, 2018
Barkha Dutt questioned the transfers through her tweet:
Member of #AlokVerma team and investigating officer against #RakeshAsthana transferred to Andaman. These mass transfers seem more Panic than Purge. Question is why? pic.twitter.com/wPUTLz6Gug
— barkha dutt (@BDUTT) October 24, 2018
Sagarika Ghose talked about Alok Verma’s petition:
Extremely grave, serious, high voltage charges levelled by CBI chief #AlokVerma against Modi government in SC petition: My removal is illegal, government violating independence of CBI, government putting "tacit" pressure on CBI in high profile cases #CBIVsCBI https://t.co/paMMn17iQi
— Sagarika Ghose (@sagarikaghose) October 24, 2018
Journalist Prema Sridevi tweeted about the hotel bookings that have come under the scanner:
Republic TV accesses CBI probe papers on #RakeshAsthana. Documents say that #RakeshAsthana and his family members road and air travel was booked by FCM Travel Solutions Pvt Ltd and the money was paid by Sterling Biotech Ltd which was being investigated by the #CBI pic.twitter.com/KIkAUPSTsB
— Prema Sridevi (@premasridevi) October 24, 2018
Leader of Opposition in Bihar Tejashwi Yadav also voiced his concerns:
Central BJP Intruders (CBI) have virtually taken over Caged Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to save Corrupt Brokers of India (CBI) through it’s Criminal Barter Interrogation (CBI) by its Crooked Bureaucrats of Incompetence (CBI). #CBIVsCBI
— Tejashwi Yadav (@yadavtejashwi) October 24, 2018
Congress President Rahul Gandhi said the “country and the constitution are in danger”:
CBI चीफ आलोक वर्मा राफेल घोटाले के कागजात इकट्ठा कर रहे थे। उन्हें जबरदस्ती छुट्टी पर भेज दिया गया।
प्रधानमंत्री का मैसेज एकदम साफ है जो भी राफेल के इर्द गिर्द आएगा- हटा दिया जाएगा, मिटा दिया जाएगा।
देश और संविधान खतरे में हैं।
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) October 24, 2018
BSP Chief Mayawati hit out at the BJP government as well:
Misuse of govt machinery & interference in CBI's functioning have earlier also caused disasters & ongoing disturbance at CBI is a matter of great concern for the nation. It's good that the matter that also had interference of central govt, is before the SC now: BSP chief Mayawati pic.twitter.com/gO7UZLYfso
— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) October 24, 2018
Cartoonist Manjul had a field day on Twitter, posting his creation:
#CBIvsCBI My yesterday's #cartoons for @Firstpost
Details: https://t.co/Onbt3qz64m & https://t.co/dlddZkin3h pic.twitter.com/DjHpdGkMmq— MANJUL (@MANJULtoons) October 24, 2018
#CBIvsCBI trended on Twitter for atleast a couple of days before other hashtags took over.