IB men were on routine patrol, not snooping on ex-CBI chief: Sources

NEW DELHI: Intelligence Bureau sources on Thursday clarified that its officers picked up by sacked CBI chief Alok Kumar Verma's personal security officers were not snooping on Verma but only carrying out routine patrol duty. They had stopped by at Janpath, where Verma's residence is located, as there was 'an unusual collection of people there.'

Janpath is home to several VIPs with high threat perception.

"IB units are routinely and regularly deployed in sensitive areas of the national Capital. At times, this is done in association with local law enforcement agencies and at other times, a surprise element is also built in. This also enables law enforcement agencies to respond immediately to developing situations," a senior IB officer told TOI.
Talking specifically about the IB unit intercepted at Janpath on Thursday morning while on such patrol duty, the officer said the unit had halted on Janpath, where "there was an unusual collection of people".
"This is a security zone where several protectees reside. The patrol halted with a view to check the reason why people had collected at the location. Since these officers were on routine duties, they were carrying their identity cards. This is unlike surveillance, which is done covertly without any visible appurtenances," said the official. "Unfortunately, their presence was projected otherwise," he added.
IB is entrusted with the responsibility of collecting intelligence on situations that may affect, inter alia, public order and internal security. That is why, said an officer, the IB, among other things, routinely deploys its patrols in sensitive areas.

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