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CBI Special Director Rakesh Asthana can’t be arrested till Nov 1: Delhi HC

The CBI had filed an FIR against Asthana for allegedly accepting a bribe from a businessman, who was related to Moin Akhtar Qureshi case.

CBI Special Director Rakesh Asthana can’t be arrested till Nov 1: Delhi HC

Rakesh Asthana (Photo: Facebook)

The Delhi High Court on Monday decided to continue its order to maintain status quo on proceedings against CBI Special Director Rakesh Asthana till November 1.

The Delhi High Court had last week issued a stay on any action by Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) against Asthana till today in connection with an alleged bribery case.

Read | No action against CBI special director Rakesh Asthana till 29 Oct: Delhi HC

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The court also questioned the CBI for not filing a reply to pleas of Asthana and DSP Devender Kumar seeking quashing of FIR in the alleged bribery case.

The CBI counsel told the court that the agency wanted more time to file counter-reply in order to maintain a fair trial. It said the entire investigating team had been changed and that the case files were before the CVC who is looking into the allegations.

The high court also directed CBI to file a reply on the two pleas on or before November 1.

The CBI had filed an FIR against Asthana for allegedly accepting a bribe from a businessman, who was related to Moin Akhtar Qureshi case.

The charge against Asthana is that he accepted a bribe to settle a case connected to meat Qureshi, who is facing multiple cases of money laundering and corruption.

Following this, the CBI arrested Asthana’s aide and Deputy Superintendent of Police Devender Kumar in connection with the case.

Kumar was arrested on charges of falsifying records. He has been accused of forging statement against CBI chief Alok Verma.

Read | Special Director Rakesh Asthana’s aide arrested; PM summons CBI chief, deputy

Interestingly, before being named in the alleged case of bribery, Asthana had filed a complaint against CBI Director Alok Verma accusing him of corruption and irregularities in 10 cases.

In an unprecedented move, the CBI divested Director Alok Verma and Special Director Rakesh Asthana from their duties as the two hit out at each other over bribery accusations in the meat exporter Moin Qureshi money laundering case.

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