CBI officer AK Bassi challenges transfer to Port Blair in Supreme Court
New Delhi, Oct 30 (IBNS): Senior Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) officer, AK Bassi, who was leading a probe against federal probe agency's special director Rakesh Asthana over a bribery case, has challenged his transfer to Port Blair in the Supreme Court, media reports said.
Bassi was transferred by interim CBI chief Nageswar Rao, who was appointed by the Centre after sending Alok Verma (who was then serving the post) on leave over his rift with Asthana.
The senior CBI officer also told the top court that he has evidences against Asthana and a Special Investigation Team (SIT) must be set up to probe the bribery case which involves Asthana.
After the matter moved to the Supreme Court, Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi said M Nageswar Rao will be the agency head but without the powers of taking policy decisions.
All the decisions taken by Rao since Verma's removal must be handed over to the top court, CJI Gogoi added.
Following the rift between the two top men of the federal probe agency, the Centre on Wednesday sent both Verma and Asthana on leave.
After Verma moved the topmost level of the judiciary against his removal, the Supreme Court said the full probe into the case must be completed within 14 days. The next hearing will be held after festival Diwali on Nov 12.
Image: Screen grab/Youtube
Support Our Journalism
We cannot do without you.. your contribution supports unbiased journalism
IBNS is not driven by any ism- not wokeism, not racism, not skewed secularism, not hyper right-wing or left liberal ideals, nor by any hardline religious beliefs or hyper nationalism. We want to serve you good old objective news, as they are. We do not judge or preach. We let people decide for themselves. We only try to present factual and well-sourced news.