Supreme Court declines transferred CBI officer’s request, says ‘Nothing Shocks Us’

The Supreme Court on Monday refused an urgent hearing of a petition filed by an officer who investigated the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) number 2 officer Rakesh Asthana. Manish Kumar Sinha approached the court against his transfer to Nagpur.

“Nothing shocks us,” said Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi.

It is to be noted that, Manish Kumar Sinha was among the officers who were transferred after the investigation agency chief Alok Verma and Rakesh Asthana were sent on forced leave in October after bribery allegations were levelled against them.

Kumar Sinha has alleged that he was transferred to Nagpur and as a result has been taken out from the probe team investigating the FIR against Rakesh Asthana.

On Friday, the apex court has turned down CBI special director Rakesh Asthana’s demand to have a copy of the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) report against CBI director Alok Verma.

Notably, Rakesh Asthana’s trouble began when his counsel senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi demanded a copy of the classified CVC report in his capacity as the complainant. Irked by the request, the bench headed by Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi said, “We will give it to Attorney General, but Rohatgi, your client won’t get it.” Though Rohatgi asserted that he too should be given a chance to respond as it was his complaint to the Cabinet Secretary that got forwarded to the CVC.

Last week, the Delhi High Court had extended the interim relief to the investigation agency, Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) special director Rakesh Asthana till November 28.

Rakesh Asthana had been sent on forced leave by the government after bribery allegations were levelled against him.

On October 15, the CBI had booked Rakesh Asthana on the basis of a complaint from Satish Sana, facing investigation in a 2017 case involving meat exporter Moin Qureshi. He claimed that the Rakesh Asthana had allegedly helped him to get a clean chit from the probe agency, CBI.

Last month, the Supreme Court had directed police to provide adequate security to Satish Sana, the complainant in the bribery case.

Also read: CBI vs CBI: SC turns down Rakesh Asthana’s request for CVC report copy