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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CM Siddaramaiah alleges ‘criminal conspiracy’ in Sringeri recount, vows legal action
Bengaluru (PTI): Alleging a “criminal conspiracy” by BJP candidate D N Jeevaraj in the Sringeri Assembly poll recounting, Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah on Tuesday said the outcome was manipulated after valid postal ballot votes in favour of Congress leader T D Raje Gowda were tampered with during the recounting process.
Following a Karnataka High Court order on an election petition filed by Jeevaraj, challenging Raje Gowda’s election, the reverification and recounting were conducted on Saturday.
After the reverification and recount of postal ballots for the Sringeri Assembly constituency, votes polled in favour of Raje Gowda were reduced by 255, the returning officer said.
A report on the matter has been submitted to the Election Commission of India for further action, the officer added.
Congress leader Raje Gowda had won the 2023 Assembly polls from Sringeri by 201 votes, defeating his nearest rival Jeevaraj.
Addressing a press conference in Bengaluru, Siddaramaiah said the High Court had directed the recounting of postal ballots and that irregularities were noticed during the exercise conducted on May 2.
“This is a clear case of criminal conspiracy,” Siddaramaiah said, alleging that valid votes cast in favour of Raje Gowda were altered after being accepted by counting agents of all parties, including Congress, BJP, and JD(S).
He claimed that during the recounting of postal ballots, 255 votes were initially accepted as valid by all agents but were later tampered with by subordinate officials.
“There is a second mark on the votes polled in favour of Raje Gowda. They had accepted these as valid votes. Subsequently, another mark was made by officials. This is a clear case of criminal conspiracy,” he said.
When asked who was behind the alleged conspiracy, the CM replied, “It was hatched by Jeevaraj and others. It is planned.”
Siddaramaiah further alleged that the returning officer acted improperly by declaring the result despite the presence of an Election Commission observer during the recounting.
“Immediately after the counting, the returning officer announced the result. He should not have done so; this is against the law,” he said.
He pointed out that Raje Gowda had originally won by 201 votes, but after the recounting, the BJP candidate was declared the winner by 52 votes.
“The BJP has committed a criminal act of conspiracy. This is not vote chori but vote dacoity,” he alleged.
The CM said a police complaint had already been filed by Raje Gowda’s election agent, Sudhir Kumar, and emphasised the need for electoral integrity.
“We want transparency and free and fair elections. That is what our Constitution mandates,” he added.
Stating that the government would pursue legal remedies, Siddaramaiah said, “We are preparing an appeal challenging the returning officer’s announcement in a court of law.”
Responding to a separate query on elections in other states, the CM said there appeared to be an anti-incumbency factor in West Bengal, while results in Tamil Nadu were “surprising,” adding that Vijay’s party was emerging as the largest there.
Following the victory of party candidates in Bagalkote and Davanagere South, Siddaramaiah expressed confidence about future electoral prospects in Karnataka.
“Even in 2028, we will win the Assembly elections. We will come back,” the CM said.
Siddaramaiah added that he would order a forensic examination into the alleged tampering of postal ballots.
