#WATCH Congress President Rahul Gandhi and Ashok Gehlot lead the protest march to CBI HQ against the removal of CBI… https://t.co/WjcGtFBv3U — ANI (@ANI) 1540537486000

#Visuals of Congress workers being detained by police during protests near #CBI headquarters in Delhi. https://t.co/17TpXm6rte — ANI (@ANI) 1540539974000

Telangana: Congress workers stage protest near CBI Office in Hyderabad against the removal of CBI Chief Alok Verma. https://t.co/ZQmkU0UodR — ANI (@ANI) 1540539747000

Rahul Gandhi courts arrest in protest at CBI headquarters

NEW DELHI: Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Friday courted arrest while leading an opposition protest in New Delhi against the central government's move to divest CBI director Alok Verma of his powers and send him on leave . Gandhi and other leaders of Congress were taken to the Lodhi Colony police station where they were detained briefly.Upon leaving the police station, Rahul launched an attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "PM can run, he can hide but in the end, truth will be revealed. Removing the CBI director will not help. PM's act was one of panic."Earlier, while addressing a gathering, Gandhi held the PM accountable for the controversy. "Every institution in India is being ruined by Prime Minister Narendra Modi," he said, adding "Congress will not allow 'chowkidaar' (watchman) to do 'chori' (theft)."Gandhi was accompanied by senior Congress leaders Ashok Gehlot, Ahmed Patel, Motilal Vora, Veerappa Moily and Anand Sharma for the march from Dayal Singh College on Lodhi Road to the CBI headquarters here. Loktantrik Janata Dal leader Sharad Yadav, CPI leader D Raja and TMC's Nadimul Haque joined the protest, along with dozens of Congress workers.Similar demonstrations are also being held in other parts of the country headed by state Congress leaders. The party has described as "illegal, unconstitutional and illegitimate removal of the CBI director by the Modi-Shah duo that has shamed India and its premier investigative agency".The opposition claims the Prime Minister is experiencing what they call 'Rafale-o-Phobia', and the "demolition of the CBI" was prompted by fears that the director was going to conduct a probe into the fighter jet deal.The government, meanwhile, dismissed Rahul's allegations. "Congress doesn't have any people's issues to raise that is why they are taking up these non-issues. We should wait for the investigation report," home minister Rajnath Singh said.The controversy erupted earlier this week when CBI director Alok Verma and special director Rakesh Asthana were sent on leave on Tuesday following an internal fight between the two over allegations of corruption and misuse of office. M Nageshwar Rao was named interim director of the central agency by the Centre.On Friday though, the Supreme Court made it clear that Rao could not take any major policy decisions while a two-week Central Vigilance Commission inquiry supervised by retired SC judge AK Patnaik into the matter was underway, adding that decisions taken by Rao since October 23 till date were not be implemented.The court sought a response from the CBI, the CVC and the Centre on Verma's plea challenging the government's decision to divest him of his duties. A bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi posted the next date of hearing on November 12.