SC dismisses plea against Rakesh Asthana's appointment as CBI special director

The Supreme Court on Tuesday dismissed a petition filed by lawyer Prashant Bhushan challenging appointment of Rakesh Asthana as a special director of CBI.

On November 24, the top court had reserved the order.

A bench of Justices R K Agrawal and A M Sapre said "the writ petition is dismissed".

The Centre had opposed the plea, saying Asthana had an outstanding career and had supervised over 40 high-profile cases like coal scam, AugustaWestland scam, blackmoney and money laundering cases.

Common Cause, the petitioner NGO, had opposed Asthana's appointment, saying it was illegal as his name had surfaced in a diary recovered during a raid conducted by the Income Tax department at the offices and other premises of company Sterling Biotech Ltd.

Supreme Court dismisses petition filed by lawyer Prashant Bhushan challenging appointment of Rakesh Asthana as a special director of CBI. pic.twitter.com/UpgmLFY4UI

— ANI (@ANI) November 28, 2017

The Centre, however, had claimed that Asthana, who was earlier an additional director in CBI, was looking after its eleven zones.