FIR against Rakesh Asthana shows cognisable offences, CBI tells Delhi HC

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Thursday told the Delhi High Court that First Information Report (FIR) against number 2 officer Rakesh Asthana and other shows cognisable offences. The Gujarat cadre officer was sent on compulsory leave by the government after being accused of taking Rs 2 crore bribe.

The investigating agency has opposed the plea seeking quashing of the FIR and said that a roving inquiry was not permissible at this stage.

Under a cognisable offence, an authority can make an arrest without a warrant and start an investigation with or without the permission of the court.

It also told the court that the probe against Rakesh Asthana was at a nascent stage and several incriminating documents as well as the role of other persons are under investigation. The agency also said that, it was handicapped in the investigation as certain files and documents were under Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) scrutiny.

While they also denied allegations made by Asthana, ‘whether germane or not germane’, in his petition.

The petitions of Asthana, CBI DSP Devendra Kumar and alleged middleman Manoj Prasad are scheduled to come up for hearing before a bench of Justices headed by Najmi Waziri during the day.

The Patiala House Court on Wednesday granted bail to Kumar and asked him to furnish a personal bond of Rs 50,000 and surety of the same amount.

It is an unprecedented development, Rakesh Asthana — who was signed by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi led-government has been booked in bribery cases.

The proximity between Modi and Asthana is what several believe has saved the latter thus far. Even Congress president Rahul Gandhi tweeted that “The PM’s blue-eyed boy, Gujarat cadre officer, of Godhra SIT fame, infiltrated as No. 2 into the CBI, has now been caught taking bribes.”

Also read: CBI vs CBI: Rakesh Asthana diverted police funds to BJP election purse, reveals retired cop