Published 14:35 IST, October 5th 2019
Delhi HC to hear CBI plea seeking more time to probe Asthana on Oct 9
The Delhi High Court has slated the hearing on charges against CBI officials Rakesh Asthana and Devender Kumar who are being accused of accepting a bribe
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The Delhi High Court has slated the hearing on the plea made by CBI seeking more time to investigate officials Rakesh Asthana and Devender Kumar on October 9. This came after a fresh petition was filed in court by the CBI asking time to carry the ongoing investigation forward. The CBI on September 30 moved the court to complete the investigation on the corruption charges against Asthana and Kumar. The CBI made the move after the expiry of the four-month extension that was granted to it in order to investigate the case. Justice Vibhu Bakhru is slated to analyse the matter on the day of the hearing.
Probe continues
According to the petition filed by the CBI, there are issues relating to the investigation in foreign countries. As a consequence, the CBI has sought an extension so that it can have more time to continue the inspection. The CBI has also submitted a document in a sealed cover which contains all the developments that have been made in the case so far. The CBI had earlier filed a report in March documenting all the updates that were made in the case till now, requesting further time. As a consequence, the court had granted the agency the allotted time.
The case against Asthana and Kumar
Rakesh Asthana and Devendra Kumar are under the fire for allegedly accepting a bribe. This is in regards to the case against Sathish Babu Sana, a Hyderabad-based businessman who has been charged with money laundering. Asthana and Kumar are being accused of accepting a bribe in exchange for a clean chit to businessman Sathish Babu Sana. Rakesh Asthana had earlier accused former CBI Director Alok Verma of false implications in regards to the case. As a consequence, the Centre had sent both of them on leave last year. In recent developments, CBI officer Satish Dagar, who was investigating the case against Asthana, has applied for voluntary retirement.
(With ANI inputs)
14:04 IST, October 5th 2019