CBI GETS 2 MONTHS TO WRAP-UP ASTHANA PROBE
NEW DELHI: The Central Bureau of Investigation was on Wednesday granted two months' time by the Delhi High Court to complete its probe in one of the most high-profile corruption cases, involving former Special Director Rakesh Asthana and at least one other agency official.
Making it clear that the CBI will not be given any more time to finish this investigation, Justice Vibhu Bakhru observed that the probe cannot be delayed indefinitely and that it should have been completed by now, one year after the case was registered. While the CBI had initially asked for six months to finish the investigation in the case and eventually pleaded for three months' time, arguing that the agency had sent Letter Rogatory (LRS) to the UAE and the United States, seeking information from these countries just weeks before.
Arguing for Asthana, Deputy Superintendent of Police Devender Kumar and businessman Manoj Prasad, the counsel for the accused argued that the LRS were sent only last month, even though the court's order to complete the probe in 10 weeks was passed in January.
They said that as per the CRPC and CBI Manual, the time period for any investigation to be concluded could not be extended beyond 90 days and one year, respectively. CBI also filed in a sealed cover its status report detailing the steps taken by it to complete the investigation.
With reports saying that Asthana might be getting a clean chit in the probe, the CBI now has two more months to decide if it will file a chargesheet against the senior IPS officer or clear the way for him. Interestingly, the CBI insisted in the High Court on Wednesday that the order specifically grant it permission to further probe the case irrespective of whether Asthana's role is established.
On January 11, the high court had granted 10 weeks to the probe agency to complete the investigation.
On May 31, it granted four more months to conclude the probe after the agency approached the court on completion of 10 weeks' time.
Asthana and the two others were booked on the allegations of criminal conspiracy, corruption and criminal misconduct under relevant sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act.
Kumar, earlier the investigating officer in a case involving meat exporter Moin Qureshi, was arrested on the allegations of forgery in recording the statement of Hyderabadbased businessman Sathish Babu Sana, who had allegedly paid a bribe to get relief in the case. He was arrested on October 22, 2018, and granted bail on October 31.
The high court in January had disposed of three petitions of Asthana, Kumar and Prasad by a common order in which the CBI was directed to complete investigation in the case within ten weeks.