CBI row: AK Bassi challenges transfer in SC, claims ‘incriminating evidence’ against Rakesh Asthana
New Delhi, Oct 30: Amid the ongoing turmoil in the Central Bureau of Investigation, CBI officer AK Bassi Tuesday moved the Supreme Court challenging his transfer to Andaman and Nicobar.
Bassi who was heading the probe in bribery allegations against agency’s Special Director Rakesh Asthana told the court he had “incriminating evidence” related to the case and asked for a SIT probe against the officer. The apex court, however, declined the urgent hearing.
M Nageshwar Rao, the interim CBI chief, had ordered a reshuffle of the team probing allegations against Asthana, immediately after he took charge. Key among the reshuffles was the marginalisation of Joint Director (Policy) A K Sharma and transfer of Deputy SP Ajay Kumar Bassi. While Sharma was transferred to the Multi-Disciplinary Monitoring Agency (MDMA) of CBI, Bassi was moved to the agency’s office in Port Blair, Andaman and Nicobar. The order directed him to “join his new place of posting with immediate effect in public interest”.
While several other officers were transferred by Rao, CBI Director Alok Verma and Rakesh Asthana were divested of their powers by the government. Both Asthana and Verma challenged the order in the apex court.
The Supreme Court, while hearing Verma’s plea last week had said Nageswar Rao cannot take any policy decisions and will only look after the day-to-day administrative affairs of the agency. The court had also asked for all transfer decisions taken by Rao in a sealed cover.
Asthana, in a letter to Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) recently, had alleged that Bassi and Deputy SP Ashwani Gupta were of “doubtful integrity” and had been sent on a “roving enquiry” to Vadodara to somehow connect him to the Sandesara family, prime accused in the Sterling Biotech case.
Both Bassi and Dubey, working under A K Sharma, were probing the 2016 wedding of Rakesh Asthana’s daughter. According to documents, several venues for the wedding were availed by the Asthana family on “complimentary” basis. However, catering and other services at the venues were paid for in cheques or through credit cards.
Courtesy: indianexpress.com
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PM Modi to address nation at around 8 PM tonight
New Delhi (PTI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the nation at around 8 PM tonight, his first since the start of Operation Sindoor, officials said.
The address comes two days after India and Pakistan reached an understanding to stop all firings and military actions on land, air and sea with immediate effect.
The understanding was reached after four days of cross-border strikes that triggered fears of a wider conflict.
Operation Sindoor was launched by India on the intervening night of May 6 and 7 to avenge the killings of 26 people in the Pahalgam terror attack. Indian armed forces targeted nine terror sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, killing over 100 terrorists.
Pakistan then attempted to attack several Indian military bases on May 8, 9 and 10.
The Indian armed forces launched a fierce counter-attack on several Pakistani military installations, including Rafiqui, Murid, Chaklala, Rahim Yar Khan, Sukkur and Chunian.
Radar sites at Pasrur and Sialkot aviation base were also targeted using precision munitions, causing massive damage
Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) Lt Gen Rajiv Ghai has said 35-40 Pakistani military personnel have been killed in the combat and New Delhi achieved its desired objectives.
Ghai is scheduled to speak with his Pakistani counterpart this evening, the second time since Saturday.
