Feud between CBI Director, deputy turns murkier; one from Asthana''s team arrested

NEW DELHI: The internecine battle in the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) between its Director Alok Verma and Special Director Rakesh Asthana took a curious turn today with the agency arresting its Deputy Superintendent of Police and conducting raids on an office at its own headquarters, amid reports that the PMO had to step in.

CBI headquarters in New Delhi. Tribune File photo

New Delhi, October 22

The internecine battle in the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) between its Director Alok Verma and Special Director Rakesh Asthana took a curious turn today with the agency arresting its Deputy Superintendent of Police and conducting raids on an office at its own headquarters, amid reports that the PMO had to step in.

The unprecedented move to search the office of the DSP came after the CBI registered a case against Asthana and others, including DSP Devender Kumar, over the alleged bribery claims by Satish Babu Sana, being probed in meat exporter Moin Quereshi case.

Editorial: CBI versus CBI

Sources in the CBI said it arrested DSP Kumar on the allegation of fabrication of records in the ongoing probe in the Qureshi case. Kumar, who served as an investigating officer in the case, was accused of allegedly fabricating a statement of Sana.

The CBI conducted searches at Kumar’s office and seized eight mobile phones, IPad and some documents.

Special Director Asthana, sources in the CBI said, did not attend office today even as reports said the both he and the Director were summoned by the PMO.

The development caused concerns among former CBI officials even as Congress chief Rahul Gandhi alleged that the CBI had become a tool for political vendetta under PM Narendra Modi and was in terminal decline.

CBI sources said Devender Kumar had allegedly fabricated a statement of Sana, a witness in the case, and signed it on September 26, 2018.

The statement quoted Sana: “In June 2018, I discussed my case with old friend CM Ramesh (Rajya Sabha member), who assured to talk to the Director. Subsequently, when he met Ramesh, he told that he personally met the Director as regards my case. Ramesh said I would not be called again. As I was not called by the CBI since June, I was under the impression that the investigation is over.”

Sana said while he was leaving for Paris with his family on September 25, he was stopped at the Hyderabad airport. The officer asked him to report to the SP, CBI, on September 26. But he could not reach Delhi. — TNS