The Congress asked on Saturday why chief vigilance commissioner K.V. Chowdary allowed himself to be “misused” by the Narendra Modi government in connection with the midnight raid at the CBI headquarters, which the party claimed was a “sinister conspiracy” to stop a possible probe into the Rafale deal.

The Congress also put out a purported sequence of events leading to the removal of CBI director Alok Verma, who the party claims had been making queries on the Rafale deal.

Congress leaders Shaktisinh Gohil and Randeep Surjewala asked in a detailed statement: “Has the CVC deliberately permitted him(self) to be misused by the government to carry out a sinister conspiracy to put a lid on the investigation into the Rafale corruption?

“What was the tearing hurry for the CVC to cancel his Denmark tour scheduled for October 23, call a midnight meeting and pass an illegal order for divesting CBI director Alok Verma of all his duties?”

Gohil and Surjewala asked if the CVC had visited the CBI headquarters on the night of October 23. “If so, what was the purpose? Was any record or documents removed by, or in presence of, the CVC? Why was M. Nageshwar Rao, the (soon-to-be-appointed) interim CBI director, sent to the CBI office at 11pm on October 23 even before the order was passed by the CVC?” the statement queried.

The Congress asked more uncomfortable questions.

“Why was the secretary, personnel, asked to wait in North Block (where the Prime Minister’s Office is housed) till 1am in anticipation of an order to be passed by the CVC for the removal of the CBI director? Who told the secretary, personnel, that the CVC would pass an order at night for the removal of the CBI director? Does it not reek of a pre-planned conspiracy?”

The Congress asked why the cabinet committee of appointments (CCA) and the PMO met at 1.30am to remove the CBI director and appoint Rao as the interim director.

“How did the PMO, as also the CCA headed by the Prime Minister, know that an order of the removal of the CBI director is going to be passed by the CVC? Were any incriminating files and documents removed from the office of the CBI director, and by whom and for what purpose? Who was directing this entire premeditated operation?” the Congress asked.

Alleging that the “sinister plot” hinted at collusion between the government and the CVC, Surjewala said: “Layers of the midnight drama, a fraud upon the Constitution and the law, puts question marks on the CVC’s role. A perusal of the scheming manipulation on the night of October 23 exposes the treachery with the Constitution and the law played out at the CBI headquarters to pre-empt the registration of an FIR on the Rafale corruption.”

The Congress statement laid down what it claimed was the sequence of events that began on the night of October 23.

“11.30 pm: the Delhi police commissioner calls his subordinates to alert… their men for an urgent midnight operation. Rendezvous point is given as Khan Market, New Delhi. At 12am, the Delhi police commissioner receives instructions from the NSA (national security adviser) and briefs Delhi police officers for taking over the CBI headquarters….

“12:30am — as Delhi police attempt to take control at CBI headquarter, they are stopped by the CISF. The Delhi police commissioner speaks to the head of the CISF, who also receives instructions from the PMO/NSA to permit Delhi police takeover of the CBI.

“Delhi police then take control of the CBI. Why were Delhi police asked to take over the CBI headquarters in the middle of the night when it is already protected by the CISF? Who directed Delhi police to take over the CBI office and who directed the CISF to withdraw?” the statement said.

The Congress claimed that during this period CVC Chowdary and two of his colleagues drafted the order under Section 8(1) of the CVC Act, 2003, for the removal of Verma as CBI director.

“At 12.30am, the CVC order is taken to North Block, where secretary, personnel, C. Chandramouli is waiting as per instructions of the PMO. Chandramouli then rushes to the PMO.

“The CCA, headed by the Prime Minister, then gives approval to remove Verma and appoint M. Nageshwar Rao as the new (interim) CBI director. The CVC and additional secretary, DoPT (department of personnel and training), Lok Ranjan, then visit the CBI headquarters.

“At 2.30am the CVC… Lok Ranjan… Rao come out of the CBI headquarters with files and records. At 2.30am orders are served on Verma,” the Congress statement claimed.