Details spill out against Asthana

The officer, who investigated CBI number two Rakesh Asthana and was transferred to Port Blair "in public interest" after the midnight shake-up, has bared in the Supreme Court incriminating details about the latter in connection with a wider racket of extortion and bribery that was rampant in the agency.

Among these details are WhatsApp messages and calls which the CBI official, Ajay Kumar Bassi, claims prove that Asthana took bribe from a Hyderabadbased businessman, Sathish Sana, who wanted to be spared CBI summons in an investigation.

CBI DSP Bassi has filed a petition in the Supreme Court wherein he has claimed, among other things, that one of the accused in the CBI bribery case had called Asthana "apna aadmi" (our man) in the agency.

Bassi further claims the call records establish a link between Asthana and Manoj Prasad, a Dubai-based man who was allegedly the go-between in the bribe deal. Prasad was arrested earlier this month. He is the son of a former RAW (Research and Analysis Wing) Director.

Bassi claims investigations revealed that immediately after the news about the arrest of Manoj Prasad broke late night on October 16, his brother Somesh made immediate calls to Samant Goel (a RAW officer), who made calls to Asthana.

Bassi further told the court in his petition that he feared that the man who had replaced him as investigating officer, Satish Dagar, could tamper with this evidence and try to save Asthana. Sources close to Aathana refused to react but said the "truth will come out soon."

Meanwhile, Bassi, who had registered the first FIR against Asthana on the basis of Sana's statement, also moved the apex court against his transfer to Port Blair. However, the court declined his plea for an urgent hearing.