Conflict

CBI officer probing FIR against Special Director Asthana moves SC, challenges Nagpur transfer

A Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) officer, part of the investigation team probing the FIR lodged against Special Director Rakesh Asthana moved the Supreme Court of India Monday seeking to quash his transfer to Nagpur in Maharashtra, according to a report by PTI.

Manish Kumar Sinha, an IPS officer mentioned his plea before a bench headed by Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi for urgent hearing tomorrow, which was declined.

When the CJI Ranjan Gogoi asked the officer what the urgency in hearing his case is, he said he has “shocking” documents. “Nothing shocks us,” CJI Gogoi said.

The bench, also comprising Justices S K Kaul and K M Joseph, is scheduled to hear tomorrow the plea of CBI Director Alok Kumar Verma challenging the government of India’s decision of divesting him of duties and sending him on leave.

ALSO READ: Supreme Court of India gives CBI chief Verma till Nov 19 to respond to CVC report

He has alleged that he was transferred to Nagpur and as a result has been taken out from the probe team investigating the FIR against Asthana.

Asthana has also been divested of his duties and sent on leave by the government of India following his tussle with the CBI Director Alok Verma.

Verma has been accused by Asthana of accepting bribe from meat exporter Moin Qureshi. Asthana has been accused of indulging in corrupt practices by Verma. The CBI had booked Asthana on allegations of receiving a bribe from an accused probed by him in a case linked to meat exporter Moin Qureshi.

Verma has been appearing before the three-member CVC headed by K V Chowdary and is understood to have given point-wise refusal to all the allegations levelled against him by his deputy.

Last month, an FIR was registered against Asthana and others, including Deputy Superintendent of Police Devender Kumar, who is in CBI custody in an alleged bribery case. After the tussle between the two senior officers became public, the GoI, in a sudden overnight strike on October 23, divested both Verma and Asthana of their duties and sent them on leave.

The very next day, Verma challenged his removal in the top court that issued notices to both the GoI and the CVC. The court directed the CVC to complete the inquiry against the CBI director within two weeks.

Meanwhile, the court had also barred IPS officer M Nageswara Rao, who has been given interim charge of the CBI, from taking any major decision.

(With inputs from PTI)

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