Two days ahead of SC hearing on CVC’s inquiry report, court directs all parties to observe status quo
CBI special director Rakesh Asthana has secured interim protection from arrest and searches till November 28 in an alleged bribery case, after joint director AK Sharma had moved the Delhi High Court pleading he has incriminating documents against Asthana.
The development comes two days ahead of the Supreme Court hearing on the Central Vigilance Commission's (CVC) inquiry report pertaining to allegations of misconduct and corruption against exiled CBI director Alok Verma.
The high court extended interim relief from arrest granted to Asthana till November 28, and ordered to continue existing status quo in the case till the next date of hearing.
Meanwhile, Sharma's counsel MA Niyazi told Justice Najmi Waziri that he has incriminating evidence against Asthana, and requested the court to file it in a sealed cover. The court asked him to file it before the CBI.
Sharma's counsel responded saying it's proving to be difficult to identify who is probing the case and who is the real agency in the existing scenario. The counsel sought time to file responses to Asthana's plea.
The court heard Asthana and suspended DSP Devender Kumar's pleas seeking quashing of FIRs against them, saying the cases were registered against them in an illegal manner with a malafide intention.
According to the CBI, Kumar had fabricated the statement of Sana Sathish Babu, a witness in the businessman Moin Qureshi case, showing he recorded the statement on September 26 in Delhi. However, investigation revealed that Sana was not in Delhi on that day. He was in Hyderabad and joined the investigation only on October 1.
The CBI registered an FIR against Asthana, Kumar and two others. The agency has alleged that bribes were taken at least five times between December 2017 and October 2018. The case was being examined by a special investigation team headed by Asthana. On October 24, Verma was divested of his charge and joint director M Nageshwar Rao was made the interim director. Asthana was also divested of all his supervisory responsibilities.
D-DAY BECKONS
- SC will hear on Friday the CVC’s inquiry report pertaining to accusations against exiled CBI director Alok Verma.
- Allegations of misconduct and corruption have been levelled against Verma.
- Verma and Asthana were both divested of all their responsibilities until the case is heard.
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