AK Bassi moves Supreme Court against transfer to Port Blair, claims having 'incriminating' evidences against Rakesh Asthana

Amidst the ongoing chaos in the Central Bureau of Investigation, deputy SP AK Bassi, who was investigating the corruption allegations against agency's No.2 Rakesh Asthana, moved Supreme Court on Tuesday challenging his transfer to Port Blair, Andaman and Nicobar islands. Bassi, in his petition, has also claimed that he has ‘incriminating evidences’ against on-leave CBI special director Rakesh Asthana in the bribery case, though, the apex court has refused to give an urgent hearing in his case.

Dy SP CBI Bassi further seeks the apex court to set up Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the charges against Asthana who has been accused of taking bribes from a businessman while investigating a case.

On October 24, 13 CBI officers in total including AK Bassi were transferred in a massive CBI clean up for directing them to “join the new place of posting with immediate effect in public interest."

A new team comprising of Satish Dagar, SP, Tarun Gauba, DIG and V Murugesan, Joint Director, was put in place to handle the Asthana case, after the government transferred the previous Investigating Officer Bassi to Port Blair.

READ: MASSIVE: CBI Director Alok Verma Sacked; Joint Director M Nageshwar Rao Steps In As Government Acts. All LIVE Updates Here-

In a massive overhaul, both Alok Verma and Rakesh Asthana were asked to step aside and go on leave on October 24 till the investigation on the allegations against them gets completed, as per the recommendation of the CVC. The Superintendence of investigation is under CVC as per the law. The CVC had also said that since there are charges and counter-charges, both have to step aside for a fair investigation. 

Amidst the row between the No.1 and No.2 at CBI, the Centre also appointed Joint Director M Nageshwar Rao as the interim CBI director in an unprecedented move. Though, his he has no power to take policy decisions in the investigative agency, as per the Supreme Court's order on October 26, which came after Alok Verma had filed a petition seeking quashing of him being sent on leave.

READ: CBI Boss Alok Verma Sacked: What It Means And All We Know So Far