The D🌟elhi High Court on Friday refused to quash the FIR lodged against CBI Special Director🔯 Rakesh Asthana on bribery allegations.
Justice Najmi Waziri also refused to quash the FIR lodged a🔯gainst CBI Deputy Superintendent Devender Kumar and alleged middleman Manoj Prasa🐎d.
The high court directed the CBI to complete investigation in case against Asthana and othe🌱rs within 10 weeks.
The high court further said that the allegation of "𓆏mala fide" raised against then CBI𒈔 Director Alok Verma is not made out.
It also vacated its interim order ꦑgranting protection to Asthana against criminal proceedings.
Justice Waziri said that permission for p🐭rior sanction to prosecute Asthana and Kumar was not required considering the facts of the case.
The 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.
Hyderabad-based busine꧙ssman Sathish Babu Sana, on whose complaint the FIR was lodged, had alleged having paid bribe to get relief in a case.
Sana had also made allegations of corruption, extortion, high-handedness and serious malpractice against🐎 Asthana.
Justice Waziri had reserved the judgement on December 20, 2018 on various petitions after hearing🐼 submissions of the counsel for CBI, the Cent♏re, Asthana, Kumar, Verma and Joint Director A K Sharma.
PTI
