New Delhi, Oct 29 (UNI) Delhi High Court on Monday again directed the CBI to maintain the status quo till November 1 in connection with its Special Director Rakesh Asthana's case as the probe agency failed to file their reply in the matter today.
The court was hearing a petition filed by CBI Special Director Rakesh Asthana seeking to ensure that no coercive steps is taken against him. He also sought the quashing of an FIR registered against him.
The High Court further gave time to CBI to file their reply and extended the interim relief to Mr Astahna till November 1.
Mr Asthana were handling several sensitive cases such as loan fraud by business tycoon Vijay Mallya and Augusta Westland chopper scam.
Mr Asthana has filed an exhaustive complaint to the Central Vigilance Commission against CBI Director Alok Verma on August 24, 2018 giving over 11 instances of alleged corruption and irregularities by Mr Verma which included receiving Rs 2 crore bribe from a businessman Satish Sana.
On the other hand, Mr Verma wrote to the CVC that Mr Asthana cannot represent him in selection committee meetings when he is away.
Devender Kumar, CBI Deputy Superintendent of Police, who worked with Rakesh Asthana, has already been sent to CBI custody by a Delhi Court for alleged corruption.
Rakesh Asthana, a 1984 batch Indian Police Service officer of Gujarat cadre, is alleged to have demanded a bribe of Rs 5 crore from a Hyderabad based businessman through two middlemen to help him get off the hook in the Moin Qureshi case.
CBI Counsel on Monday opposed the submissions made on behalf of Mr Kumar and Mr Asthana by submitting in the court that the allegations against the officers were serious and involved charges of bribery and corruption. CBI Counsel sought more time to file their reply as the case file has been sent to Central Vigilance Commission (CVC).
Justice Najimi Waziri after hearing the submission on behalf of CBI Counsel passed a direction to the probe agency to maintain status quo with regard to the petitioner (Mr Asthana) till November 1 and file reply till the next date of hearing.
UNI XC SHK1907