In a major bureaucratic reshuffle, the government had appointed senior IPS officers Rakesh Asthana as Special Director of Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in October 2017.
Asthana can now be arrested, said the sources. (File Photo)
Rakesh Asthana, Special Director at the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), suffered a major setback on Friday as the Delhi High Court has refused to quash the FIR against him in cases related to criminal conspiracy, corruption, and criminal misconduct.
Justice Najmi Waziri has directed the CBI to conclude investigation against Asthana within 10 weeks.
Delhi High Court observed, “No doubt, registration of an FIR against a public servant will be a cause of great concern and stress for the public servant. Charges under the FIR are a matter of investigation. It is important that law presumes a person is innocent until proven guilty.
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“CBI to conclude investigation against Rakesh Asthana and Devender Kumar in 10 weeks.”
According to the sources, Justice Najmi Waziri refused to quash the bribery case filed against Asthana, CBI Deputy Superintendent Devender Kumar, and Manoj Prasad, an alleged middleman.
The court was hearing petitions filed by the three challenging the FIR filed against them.
Asthana, in his petition, had said the FIR was motivated at the behest of the former CBI director Alok Verma. Asthana can now be arrested, said the sources.
In a major bureaucratic reshuffle, the government had appointed senior IPS officers Rakesh Asthana as Special Director of Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in October 2017.
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