NEW DELHI, JAN 11:
The Delhi High Court on Friday refused to quash the FIR lodged against CBI Special Director Rakesh Asthana on bribery allegations and vacated its interim order granting him protection against criminal proceedings.
Justice Najmi Waziri also refused to quash the FIR lodged against CBI Deputy Superintendent Devender Kumar and alleged middleman Manoj Prasad.
The judge said that permission for prior sanction to prosecute Mr. Asthana and Mr. Kumar was not required considering the facts of the case.
The court directed the CBI to complete the investigation against Mr. Asthana and others within 10 weeks. It further said that the allegation of “mala fide” raised against then CBI Director Alok Verma had not been made out.
Mr. Verma and Mr. Asthana were at loggerheads for several months and levelled charges of corruption against each other.
Mr. Asthana was booked on charges of criminal conspiracy, corruption and criminal misconduct under sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act.
Hyderabad-based businessman Sathish Babu Sana, on whose complaint the FIR was lodged, had alleged having paid bribe to get relief in a case. Mr. Sana had also made allegations of corruption, extortion, high-handedness and serious malpractice against Mr. Asthana.
