Man who accused CBI special director Rakesh Asthana of bribery seeks protection from SC
New Delhi, Oct 29 (IBNS): Hyderabad-based businessman Satish Sana, who has accused Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) special director Rakesh Asthana of bribery, sought interim protection from the Supreme Court, media reports said.
Sana sought protection after he was summoned by the investigation agency.
The businessman was being investigated in a case involving meat exporter Moin Qureshi, who was arrested in a money laundering case.
Sana claimed he had to cough up a bribe of Rs. two crores to Rakesh Asthana over a period of over 10-months so that he is not named in the CBI case against Moin Qureshi.
However, Asthana rubbished the charges saying it was hurled against him owing to a conspiracy between the accuser and some CBI and Enforcement Directorate officers.
After Sana's claims, a First Information Report (FIR) was filed against Asthana. A massive row broke out after Asthana and CBI director Alok Verma accused each other of corruption.
Following the rift between the two top men of the federal probe agency, the Centre on Wednesday sent both Verma and Asthana on leave.
After Verma moved the topmost level of the judiciary against his removal, the Supreme Court said the full probe into the case must be completed within 14 days. The next hearing will be held after festival Diwali on Nov 12.
Meanwhile, Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi said M Nageswar Rao, who has been appointed as an interim CBI chief by the Centre, will be the agency head but without the powers of taking policy decisions.
All the decisions taken by Rao since Verma's removal must be handed over to the top court, CJI Gogoi added.
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