CBI Row: Additional SP moves Delhi HC

Additional Superintendent of Police (SP) SS Gurm on Wednesday moved the Delhi High Court in the ongoing bribery case against CBI Special Director Rakesh Asthana to quash a First Information Report filed against him by the probe agency. In the petition, Gurm has alleged that Asthana was "misleading" and the CBI was trying to protect him.

Asthana came under scrutiny after the CBI filed an FIR against him for allegedly accepting a bribe from a businessman, who was linked to Moin Akhtar Qureshi case. He was heading the Special Investigation Team (SIT) that was investigating Qureshi's case.

Before being sent on leave by the government, Asthana had moved the Delhi High Court against the FIR by citing section 17 A, which made it compulsory that before setting up an enquiry or investigation under Prevention of Corruption (PoC) Act against the government servant, an approval of the sitting government or department will have to be sought.

In his petition, Gurm has claimed that he had vetted the FIR against Asthana and added, "The basis of the FIR is not predicated on any recommendation or decision taken by Asthana in the discharge of his official functions or duties. Therefore requirement of sanction is not there."

Gurm further claimed that the CBI had consulted Additional Solicitor General PS Narasimha, who was of the opinion that 17A sanction is not required.