New Delhi, Oct 30: A city court on Tuesday, after hearing the submission on behalf of CBI, ordered to 14 days judicial custody middleman Manoj Prasad and CBI Deputy Superintendent of Police Devender Kumar who have been arrested in connection with bribery allegations involving Special Director of CBI Rakesh Asthana.
On the request of the Central Bureau of Investigation, the court adjourned the bail application for tomorrow for filing the reply on behalf of the probe agency.
Anti-Corruption Unit registered a First Information Report on the basis of a complaint made on October 15 by Sathish Babu Sana, a Hyderabad-based businessman. Two alleged middlemen, Manoj Prasad and Somesh Prasad, have also been arraigned in the case. It was alleged that Kumar being the IO in the case against meat exporter Moin Qureshi was repeatedly calling the complainant to the CBI office to harass and compel him to pay a bribe of Rs 5 crore to get a clean chit in the case.
Indian Police Service officer of Gujarat cadre, Asthana, is accused of accepting a bribe of Rs 2 crore from a businessman who was under probe in the Qureshi case in order to "wreck" the investigation.
Kumar was produced in court after the expiry of his seven day CBI custody.
Defence counsel contended that there was no direct allegation against him and the custody of Kumar is "illegal".Counsel requested the court to pass an order to release the mobile phones, iPad and laptop of his son seized in this matter. He further submitted that Kumar was prepared to furnish the sound surety before the court and also ready to abide by all the conditions imposed if bail was granted.
In this matter, Kumar and Asthana have already challenged the legality of the FIR filed against them.
Counsel for CBI submitted that the accused be sent to judicial custody. CBI opposed the bail application by submitting that if Kumar was released, he may try to fabricate the evidence during the investigation in the case.
CBI Special Judge Santosh Snehi Mann, after hearing the submission on behalf of both sides, remanded Kumar to 14 days judicial custody and adjourned the bail matter for tomorrow for filing the reply on behalf of the probe agency.
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