CBI told to probe RAW ex-chief's assets

New Delhi, May 30

A special CBI court here has directed the agency to inquire into allegations of disproportionate assets amassed by a former Secretary of the country’s elite snooping agency Research and Analysis Wing.

An earlier order on February 18, 2013 by Tis Hazari Special court asking the CBI to probe the assets of A K Verma, the then chief RAW, was challenged by the CBI in the Delhi High Court and was quashed.

“Thereafter, the complainant (former RAW employee RK Yadav) had prayed for issuing summons to the accused persons, for facing the trial for the offences punishable under Section 13 (1) (e) read with Section 13(2) of the PC Act, as well as for the offence under Section 109 IPC,” Special Judge Brijesh Kumar Garg said in his order.

He said Yadav had examined a total of 13 witnesses in support of his contentions, in pursuance to the orders passed by the court, September 07. 2010.

“These witnesses have brought on record, the various documents pertaining to the various movable and immovable assets of the accused persons. But, the complainant has failed to produce concrete evidence in respect of a large number of movable and immovable assets, allegedly acquired by the accused No.1, during his tenure as the Chief of RAW,” he said.

The judge pointed out in the present case also, the accused persons were the residents of Noida, beyond the territorial jurisdiction of the court.

“Furthermore, an incomplete evidence has come on record, in the pre­summoning evidence of the complainant, regarding a large number of movable and immovable assets, allegedly acquired by the accused persons, during the service period of accused No. 1,” he noted.

Citing Supreme Court orders, the judge directed the CBI Director to conduct “investigation in the form of an inquiry” by an officer not below the rank of Superintendent of Police regarding the “income and assets of the accused persons” under Section 202, CrPC, and submit report to the court within three months. — PTI

Box

Delhi HC quashed earlier order

* The CBI had challenged an earlier court order asking the agency to probe the assets of AK Verma, the then chief RAW, in the Delhi High Court, which quashed it

* A special CBI court has now directed the CBI Director to conduct a probe by an officer not below the rank of SP and submit report to the court within three months