CBI officer AK Bassi moves SC against transfer, says has 'incriminating evidence' against Asthana

AK Bassi, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) officer who was investigating corruption allegations against the agency’s special director Rakesh Asthana, has moved the Supreme Court against his transfer to Port Blair following the upheaval in the CBI last week when Asthana and agency director Alok Verma were divested of all charges.

However, the apex court refused an urgent hearing of his plea. AK Bassi then said he had "incriminating evidence" against Asthana in bribery case and asked Supreme Court to call for evidence of technical surveillance. Bassi also sought the setting up a Special Investigating Team (SIT) to investigate charges against Asthana.

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The Delhi High Court on Monday said CBI Special Director Rakesh Asthana, who was sent on leave by the government, cannot be arrested till November 1. A bench of Justice Najmi Waziri questioned the CBI for not filing reply to pleas of Asthana and another official, Devender Kumar, Deputy Superintendent of Police, seeking quashing the of FIR in the matter.

The CBI has lodged an FIR against Asthana and Kumar in connection with bribery allegations. The high court also directed the CBI to file reply on the two pleas on or before November 1.

The CBI prosecutor told the high court that delay in filing of reply occurred as the case files have been sent to Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) and sought more time for filing the response.

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Kumar, earlier the investigating officer in a case involving meat exporter Moin Qureshi, was arrested on October 22 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.

The high court had on October 23 directed the CBI to maintain status quo on the criminal proceedings initiated against its special director Asthana, who has challenged the FIR lodged against him on bribery allegations.