Rakesh Asthana is known mainly for his role in investigating the fodder scam of the nineties,

that involved embezzlement of about Rs 9.4 billion from Bihar state treasury by then Chief Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav.

In 2002, when Narendra Modi was Chief Minister of Gujarat, Asthana was asked to head the Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe Sabarmati Express train tragedy.

It was Asthana who declared that the fire on train at Godhrawas a pre-meditated conspiracy, thus supporting the stand taken by the Modi government.