Four men belonging to the Intelligence Bureau (IB) were caught outside the official residence of CBI Director Alok Verma, who has been divested of his powers and sent on leave, officials said on 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, sources said they were taken away by the police and questioned.

The IB is entrusted with the responsibility of collecting intelligence inputs 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.