Suspended CBI DSP moves HC against Verma's transfer order

Suspended Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Devender Kumar on Thursday moved the Delhi High Court challenging CBI Director Alok Verma's decision revoking a transfer order of the team which was probing a case against Special Director Rakesh Asthana.

Hours after re-joining the office after nearly two-and-half months, the CBI Director on Wednesday revoked most of the transfer orders issued by agency's interim chief M. Nageswara Rao, which came a day after the Supreme Court reinstated him as the agency's head, though with limited powers.

Kumar, who is out on bail in the graft case, requested the court not to allow the re-transfer of the officers. He further pleaded not to allow the former team to deal with the investigation on the FIR filed against him alleging that the team were involved in illegle seizure.

"If the team is allowed to continue, the petitioner (Kumar) is apprehensive that they may indulge in destruction of evidence that established the illegal seizure and illegal surveillances," Kumar said in the plea.

The plea is likely to be heard by Justice Najmi Waziri on Friday. Justice Najmi Waziri has reserved order on Asthana and Kumar pleas seeking quashing of FIR against them.

According to the CBI, Kumar fabricated the statement of Satish Sana Babu, a witness in the businessman Moin Qureshi case, showing he recorded the statement on September 26 in Delhi.

Verma and Asthana have levelled corruption allegations against each other. The Centre had relieved Asthana of his duties and Verma was asked to proceed on leave on the night of October 23-24.

On October 24, Rao, after being appointed as the interim Director, transferred 13 officials, including agency's Joint Director (Policy) A.K. Sharma, Deputy Inspectors General M.K. Sinha, Anish Prasad, K.R. Chaurasia, Tarun Gauba, Additional Superintendents of Police S.S. Gurm and Deputy Superintendents of Police A.K. Bassi and Ashwani Kumar.

Bassi and Sinha were investigating Verma's deputy Rakesh Asthana, who the agency has accused of corruption.

Kumar, in his fresh plea, has requested the court to issue direction to the probe agency to present the handwritten complaint by Satish Sana.

--IANS

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