CBI opposes Asthana's plea to quash FIR, says roving inquiry at this stage not permissible

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Thursday opposed Special Director Rakesh Asthana's plea to quash the FIR in connection with the corruption allegations against him.

"FIR on bribery allegations against Special Director Rakesh Asthana and others shows cognizable offenses," the agency told the court.

Country's premier investigation agency also said that probe against Asthana is at the nascent stage and several incriminating documents and role of other persons under investigation.

"Roving inquiry at this stage not permissible," CBI told the Court opposing Asthana's bail plea. 

CBI also informed the court that it is handicapped as certain files and documents under CVC scrutiny.

Asthana had moved the Delhi High Court against the lodging of an FIR against him and sought the high court's direction that no coercive action be taken against him.

The CBI has arrested its DSP Devender Kumar in connection with bribery allegations involving the investigative agency's second-in-command, Asthana.

Kumar, earlier the investigating officer in a case involving meat exporter Moin Qureshi, was arrested by the CBI on the allegations of forgery in recording the statement of businessman Sathish Sana, who had alleged to have paid bribe to get relief in the case.

In his statement, Sana had purportedly said that he had in June this year discussed his case with Telugu Desam Party's Rajya Sabha member C M Ramesh who, after speaking to the CBI Director, had assured him that he would not be summoned again.

"From June onwards, I was not called by the CBI. I was under the impression that investigation against me is complete," he is believed to have said.

The CBI has now alleged that Kumar had fabricated this statement as an "afterthought...to corroborate the baseless allegations made by Asthana against CBI Director Alok Verma to the CVC (Central Vigilance Commissioner)".

Asthana, who was booked by the agency on bribery charges in an unprecedented action, had complained against Verma on August 24, 2018.