PIl seeks sit probe in CBI controversy

Mumbai: A PIL has been filed in the Bombay high court seeking constitution of Special Investigation Team (SIT) comprising of retired Supreme Court judge to probe into top CBI officers Alok Verma and Rakesh Asthana controversial episode.

Social activist Nitin Deshpande on Wedne-sday filed the petition through advocates Ashish Mehta, Khorzan Irani and Kaushtubh Gupte seeking to constitute SIT comprising of a retired Supreme Court judge, director of Enforcement Director-ate (ED) and special director (HO) of ED. The petitioner has requested the court to hand over the investigation of the FIR, registered against Rakesh Asthana, to the SIT forthwith in order “to ensure a fair, impartial, independent, separate, thorough and a detailed probe”.

The CBI on October 15, 2018 filed an FIR against Rakesh Asthana under provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act. Later, the Delhi high court granted interim relief to Asthana in this case.

The petitioner has stated in the petition that CBI’s joint director M. Nageshwar Rao has been asked to look after the duties and functions of director of CBI due to present state of affairs both Verma and Asthana have been sent on leave.