<span style="color: #222222;">The Centre today told the Supreme Court that the fight between CBI Director Alok Verma and Special Director Rakesh Asthana in public exposed the premier probe agency to ridicule. </span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Attorney General K K Venugopal told a bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi that the dispute between the two top officers was pulling down integrity and respect of CBI. He said the Centre's main aim was to see that confidence of the public in this premier institution is restored.</span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">The apex court on the 29th of last month had said it would first consider whether the government has the power to divest the CBI director of his duties.  </span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">The Attorney General today submitted that the Centre acted within its jurisdiction on complaints made in July and October this year. </span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Mr Venugopal concluded his arguments after which Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) made the submissions. </span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">After a brief submission by Mehta, the apex court concluded the day's hearing and posted the matter for further arguments for Thursday.</span>