Delhi High Court refuses to quash FIR against CBI Special Director Rakesh Asthana

NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court on Friday refused to quash the FIR lodged against CBI Special Director Rakesh Asthana on bribery allegations.nnJustice Najmi Waziri also refused to quash the FIR lodged against CBI Deputy Superintendent Devender Kumar and alleged middleman Manoj Prasad.nnThe high court directed the CBI to complete investigation in case against Asthana and others within 10 weeks.nnThe high court further said that the allegation of “mala fide” raised against then CBI Director Alok Verma is not made out.nnIt also vacated its interim order granting protection to Asthana against criminal proceedings.nnJustice Waziri said that permission for prior sanction to prosecute Asthana and Kumar was not required considering the facts of the case.nnThe high court dismissed the petitions filed by Asthana, Kumar and Prasad challenging the FIR lodged against them. Asthana was booked on charges of criminal conspiracy, corruption and criminal misconduct under sections of Prevention of Corruption Act.nnHyderabad-based businessman Sathish Babu Sana, on whose complaint the FIR was lodged, had alleged having paid bribe to get relief in a case.nnSana had also made allegations of corruption, extortion, high-handedness and serious malpractice against Asthana.nnJustice Waziri had reserved the judgement on December 20, 2018 on various petitions after hearing submissions of the counsel for CBI, the Centre, Asthana, Kumar, Verma and Joint Director A K Sharma.nnSource: Press Trust of India