PMO disappointed by war between CBI No 1 and No 2

In his letters to the Cabinet Secretary and Central Vigilance Commission, Asthana had written about 10 cases of alleged corruption and irregularities against the CBI Director Alok Verma, levelling serious corruption charges in some of them, reported news agency PTI.

(Image: File | PTI)

New Delhi: There’s an upheaval in India’s main investigative agency CBI owing to allegations hurled by its Director and deputy against each other. The CBI is, however, defending its Director Alok Verma whose deputy Rakesh Asthana and 4 others have been booked by the agency on bribery charges. Gujarat-cadre officer Asthana has alleged that he is being framed regarding which he informed the CVC and Prime Minister’s Office on August 24, 2018. Those close to Asthana have said the norms of Section 17A in Prevention of Corruption Act was not adhered making the FIR invalid.  ABP News has learnt that the prime minister’s office was well aware of the turmoil within the CBI in the last one year and is seen as its failure for not being able to settle differences. The PMO has expressed disappointment over the whole turn of events. Verma has also met PM Narendra Modi and briefed about the entire matter, mainly putting forward his side of the case. In his letters to the Cabinet Secretary and Central Vigilance Commission, Asthana had written about 10 cases of alleged corruption and irregularities against the CBI Director Alok Verma, levelling serious corruption charges in some of them, reported news agency PTI.  One of the cases pertained to Sathish Sana, a businessman facing probe in a corruption case involving meat exporter Moin Qureshi in which Asthana had alleged on August 24 that Sana paid Rs two crore to Verma to get relief in the case. Asthana had also alleged that Verma delayed his team's request to arrest Sana in the case. The complaint was referred to Central Vigilance Commission by the Government which is looking into it. Meanwhile, the CBI this afternoon arrested its Deputy Superintendent of Police Devender Kumar in connection with bribery allegations involving Asthana.