The CVC order makes only brief mention of allegations and the FIR against Rakesh Asthana, lists his charges against his boss Alok Verma.
New Delhi: The Central Vigilance Commissioner’s order against CBI special director Rakesh Asthana divesting him of his powers states that the action was taken due to certain pending investigations because of which Asthana continuing in his position would place him in a “very embarrassing and awkward situation”.
The order dated 23 October, says: “The fact that certain investigations under the Prevention of Corruption Act are pending against the Special Director, CBI the second senior most person in the organisation and that he, in turn, has to supervise and monitor investigations, places him in a very embarrassing and awkward situation.”
In an unprecedented shake-up, both Asthana and CBI director Alok Verma were sent on leave on 23 October, after their rift came out in the open with both levelling serious allegations of corruption against each other and the agency registering a case of extortion and bribery against Asthana.
The Centre took the decision following a recommendation from the CVC, which is looking into complaints that the two men have lodged against each other.
The CVC order, however, only briefly mentions the allegation against Asthana, but lists out that he had written to CVC K.V. Chowdary on several occasions complaining of Verma’s alleged bias towards him.
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A passing reference of bribery allegations and the FIR
The order against Asthana briefly talks of the secret note that was sent to the CVC by Verma on 21 October 2017, alleging Asthana’s involvement in bribery cases, including the Sandesara case, demanding necessary action.
“In the said note, certain transactions alleged to have been found in certain records seized from Sandesara Group and the public servants to whom such entries relate has been listed. It is mentioned that 23 suspected entries in hard as well as soft data has been detected for a total amount of Rs 3,94,72,106 with respect to Rakesh Asthana,” the order says.
The order refers to the case registered against Asthana on 15 October, which accuses him of accepting a bribe of Rs 2 crore to “settle” an ongoing investigation against the Hyderabad-based businessman Sathish Sana, an accused in the Moin Qureshi case.
Sana has filed a complaint against Asthana saying that he was being harassed by CBI officers to cough up Rs 5 crore.
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Asthana alleged bias and prejudice by Verma
The order against Asthana mentions how while being probed for allegedly receiving pecuniary benefits from Sterling Biotech, he had complained to the CVC that he was falsely implicated in the case and demanded an SIT probe.
“Rakesh Asthana, special director, CBI, has been making a series of complaints dated 14 September 2018, 20 September, 24 September, 26 September, 15 October, 18 October, 19 October and 20 October from time to time alleging bias and prejudice by Verma and A.K. Sharma, JD (joint director), Policy, CBI,” the order reads.
“He has been representing that he has been falsely implicated in half a dozen cases and requested to entrust these cases to an SIT not comprising of these two and other few officers. The allegations of Asthana of bias and prejudice have been conveyed to Director CBI for necessary action,” it adds.
The order further notes that Asthana made “certain grave allegations” against Verma, which it said, was also being probed by the commission.