CBI Addl SP Gurm approaches Delhi HC against Asthana; says he is misleading court

CBI Additional SP SS Gurm alleged in the Delhi High Court on Wednesday, October 31, that Special Director Rakesh Asthana, who has filed a petition seeking the quashing of an FIR against him in a bribery case, was misleading the court by placing "selective" facts before it.

Gurm, who was transferred along with other CBI officials in the feud between CBI Director Alok Verma and Asthana, has sought to be made a party in the petition filed by Asthana.

The officer, who was transferred from Delhi to Jabalpur, has sought an opportunity to be heard in the case.

In an application before the high court, the additional SP claimed he has "reasonable" apprehension that CBI is seeking to protect and support Asthana and may not effectively contest the petition.

He has also sought dismissal of Asthana's petition.

The separate petitions of Asthana, Deputy Superintendent of Police Devender Kumar and alleged middleman Manoj Prasad seeking to quash the FIR against them are scheduled to be heard by Justice Najmi Waziri on Thursday, November 1.

In a related case, former Supreme Court Justice AK Patnaik is actively supervising a probe by the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) against CBI Director Alok Verma, who was removed at midnight after he allegedly refused to listen to NSA Ajit Doval’s request of not probing the Rafale deal.

The benched CBI Director had also made up his mind to arrest Rakesh Asthana, who has reportedly been accused of being involved in an extortion racket, transferring police funds to the BJP during his time as top cop and obstructing investigations potentially adverse to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, among other allegations.