Page 37 - 30NOV2018E

cbi imbroglio

like Ceaser’s wife, must be beyond
suspicion.”

Cases before CBI
What makes the tussle unprecedented
is the number of important cases be-
fore the CBI at present. From the IRCTC
scam to accusations of accepting bribe
in Moin Qureshi’s investigations and
ignoring intelligence report on coal
scam, the allegations levelled by CBI
special director Rakesh Asthana, the
number 2 in the probe agency, against
the number 1, Alok Verma, will now
come under probe by the Central
Vigilance Commission (CVC) following
Supreme Court’s order.
The allegation against Verma relates
to the IRCTC scam, involving RJD chief
Lalu Prasad, his wife and former Bihar
CM Rabri Devi, and son Tejashwi Yadav.
Asthana has alleged that Verma had
asked him to call off raids planned • Facing graft charges Alok Kumar Verma was CBI.” On making the documents avail-
against Lalu in Patna last year at the appointed as the CBI chief in January 2017 able, the CBI informed CVC on behalf
last moment. of its director that “records run into
The CBI, however, conducted the documents. thousands of pages, files scattered at
raids and filed a chargesheet. Asthana One of Asthana’s main allega- various places like branch, malkhana,
also claimed that the name of a senior tion was that Sathish Babu Sana paid courts are being sought and will be
Railways official, Rakesh Saksena, Verma 2 crore to get a clean chit in produced before the commission in 3
was kept off the FIR in the IRCTC case. the Moin Qureshi case. He claimed weeks”.
There are nine allegations of miscon- Verma held the file for nearly four Another accusation deals with
duct, interference in investigation, and days and marked it to the Director of Verma allegedly not taking action on
corruption — the CVC is required to Prosecution (DoP) on September 24, intelligence inputs. Asthana alleged
examine them within two weeks. and the latter demanded all evidence that despite warning, Sandeep Jajodia
available on record. and Ashok Chaturvedi, accused in coal
Verma vs Asthana Asthana also said the team under scam cases, no lookout notice was
Before he was ousted as CBI director, him had opened a lookout circular served. Yet another charge that will
Verma had booked Asthana for alleg- against Sana, and preemptive action come under probe relates to registra-
edly receiving money to give relief to foiled his attempt to escape abroad. tion of a preliminary enquiry by CBI in
one Satish Babu Sana, who was being The CBI special director claimed that the case of land acquisition in Nangli,
investigated by the CBI in the Moin the file was again placed before Verma Umarpur, Tigra, Ulhawas and other
Qureshi case.Asthana had levelled on October 3 with answers to queries villages of Haryana to build residen-
similar charges against Verma, before raised by the DoP, but it has not been tial sectors in Gurgaon. According
the latter booked him, in letters to the returned till date. In his response to the to Asthana’s complaint, he received
Cabinet Secretary on August 24. CVC on September 18, Verma instead information that about 36 crore had
Asthana’s complaint was referred leveled allegation against Asthana and changed hands to ensure that the
on August 31 to the CVC, which called raised the issue of his integrity. In its probe was closed and no criminal
Asthana for examination on Septem- communication to CVC, the CBI said investigation launched. “It was found
ber 10. Asthana produced documents it is investigating Asthana’s role in at that then-director of town planning
and files to substantiate his allegations least half-a-dozen cases. and a real estate company owner
against the CBI director. The CVC’s October 23 order stated, were liasioning with joint director A
After perusal of documents pro- “The CBI requested that complaint of K Sharma and Alok Verma,” Asthana
duced by Asthana, and his deposition, Asthana should be viewed as a des- stated in his complaint.
the CVC served a notice on Verma on perate attempt by a tainted officer to
September 11, demanding files and intimidate officers of various ranks in letters@tehelka.com

Tehelka / 15 november 2018 37 www.Tehelka.com

36-37 Column Hiteshi.indd 3 02/11/18 11:27 AM