CBI bribery case: CVC may summon Alok Verma, Rakesh Asthana
The Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) may summon CBI Director Alok Verma and Special Director Rakesh Asthana, said graft watchdog's chief KV Chowdary, adding their statements may be recorded as part of an inquiry being conducted on the direction of the Supreme Court.
The probe by the CVC was initiated following a corruption complaint against Verma.
Talking to reporters on the sidelines of an event in Delhi on Wednesday, Chowdary said most of the files related to the case are with the commission.
"We have got most of the files. We are in process of getting some files from the CBI. Nothing much can be said now as the matter is sub judice," he said.
“As of now we are examining the documents and if there the need arises, then all concerned would be called in,” he said on being questioned if the CVC plans to call Asthana and Verma to record their statements in the case.
No summons have been issued either to Verma or Asthana to appear before it in connection with the probe, he said.
According to officials, some CBI officials the CVC on Tuesday had examined some CBI officials probing crucial cases which figured in Asthana's complaint of corruption against the CBI chief Alok Verma.
The top court had on Friday asked the CVC to complete within two weeks, its inquiry into allegations against Verma levelled by Asthana.
The feud between Verma and Asthana escalated recently leading to registration of an FIR against Asthana and others including Deputy Superintendent of Police Devender Kumar, who is in the CBI custody in an alleged bribery case.
An FIR against Asthana was registered by the CBI on October 15, for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 2 crore from Hyderabad-based businessman Sana Sathish Babu which was given through two middlemen Manoj Prasad and Somesh Prasad to sabotage the probe against meat exporter Moin Qureshi.
Rakesh Asthana, in his complaint to the Cabinet Secretary on August 24, had levelled allegations against Verma.
Verma had got a bribe of Rs two crore from Sana to help him get some relief from questioning in the matter, the complaint said.
