CBI vs CBI: Why accused with bigger role in bribery case roaming free, asks Court

A Delhi court Wednesday expressed displeasure over CBI's investigation into a bribery case involving its former Special Director Rakesh Asthana, who was given a clean chit, and asked as to why an accused with "bigger role in the case was roaming free" while the probe agency arrested its own DSP.

The court was anguished that Someshwar Srivastava, whose name had cropped up during the investigation, was not arrested in the case but CBI's DSP Devender Kumar was arrested in 2018 and later got bail.

Srivastava is the brother of Dubai-based businessman and alleged middleman Manoj Prasad, who is one of the main accused in the case.

In its charge sheet filed Tuesday, the agency has not arrayed Srivastava as an accused. However, the CBI said probe is on to ascertain his role in the case, along with certain other persons.

Along with Asthana and Kumar, the CBI has also given clean chit to RAW chief S K Goel, who was under the scanner in the case, sources said.

While perusing the charge sheet, the judge asked, "Why Srivastava not arrested? Manoj Prasad seems to be a weaker link. Why Srivastava is roaming free? 'Itni nazar-e-enayat kyun (why so much mercy)?' You arrested your own DSP, without considering his career, which might have been ruined. You curtailed his life and liberty while Srivastava is enjoying his life."
At this, the court said, "What is LOC? Nothing. India is huge. He is enjoying his life. It's very strange that main persons are roaming at large . He is the principal actor. There are more evidence against him than Manoj."