CBI registers case against its own Special Director

Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has filed an FIR against its own Special Director Rakesh Asthana in connection with controversial meat exporter Moin Qureshi case.

The CBI has registered a regular case against Asthana and a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) in CBI's Special Investigation Team (SIT) and others under sections pertaining to Prevention of Corruption Act amongst others.

As per information shared by SS Gurm, Superitendent of Police, New Delhi's CBI AC III unit, 'A regular case is registered against Rakesh Asthana, Special Director, CBI and Devender Kumar, DSP, CBI, SIT as well as against private persons Manoj Prasad, Somesh Prasad and other unknown public servants and private persons.'

CBI AC III unit's DSP Ajay Kumar Bassi has been entrusted with the investigation of the case.

The case has been registered following a complaint made by Hyderabad resident Sathish Babu Sana, which was received on October 15.

Elaborating on the details of the case, an official statement released by SP Gurm asserts that, 'The acts of the public servants and private persons namely Rakesh Asthana, Special Director, CBI and Devender Kumar, DSP, CBI, SIT, New Delhi along with Manoj Prasad and Somesh Prasad as mentioned in the complaint prima facie disclose the commission of offences punishable under section 120B of Indian Penal Code and section 7, and 13 (20 read with 13 (1)(d) of Prevention of Corruption Act 1998 and section 7A of Prevention of Corruption Act (as amended in 2018)'.

The complainant in his letter to the Director of CBI has alleged that following a notice from DSP Devender Kumar he first appeared before him at his office and was questioned about his relation with Moin Akhtar Qureshi.

On subsequent appearances the complainant alleges that the DSP accused him of paying Rs. 50 Lakh to Qureshi for Vanpic case, which he denied.

Later on a visit to Dubai, complainant Sathish Babu Sana claims to have met with Manoj Prasad, who informed him about having very good connection in CBI and assured him about helping in the case through his brother Somesh Prasad.

The complainant alleges that Somesh Prasad asked him to pay an amount of Rs 5 crore to get favour in the case from the CBI officer.

Complainant further claims that upon query about CBI officer to which Somesh was speaking, he showed him a WhatsApp profile picture of his contact which reportedly was of Special Director Asthana.

Thereafter the Complainant alleges to have paid a sum of 2.95 crore to Somesh Prasad and one of his accomplice in two installments.

He also alleges that while the notices from CBI stopped after the payment of the initial sum, he again received a notice on 13th of February from DSP Devinder Kumar to appear before him at CBI.

Following another notice when the complainant confronted Manoj Prasad about the previous payment and the promise of relief in the case, Prasad reportedly informed him that 'he had to pay the balance amount of Rs 2 crore to avoid issuance of further notices from CBI and get full relief from CBI'.

Complainant also mentioned in his complaint letter that during one appearance at CBI he was confronted with Moin Akhtar Qureshi who also denied of taking Rs 50 lakhs a bribe from the complainant.