CBI vs CBI: Delhi HC dismisses bail plea of middlemen Manoj Prasad, involving special director Rakesh Asthana in bribery case

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday dismissed a bail plea filed by the middleman Manoj Prasad, in a bribery scandal which involves CBI special director Rakesh Asthana.

The case is pertaining to the alleged involvement of the CBI special director Rakesh Asthana in a bribery case, which is currently being investigated by the CBI and Asthana had been sent on leave by the government.

Justice Najmi Waziri, hearing the plea, dismissed it saying that the allegations made against the accused were serious in nature and he cannot be given bail on that ground.

The lawyers appearing for the CBI, includes Additional Solicitor General Vikramjit Banerjee and advocate Rajdipa Behrua, had opposed the bail plea of accuse Manoj Prasad and had said in the court that the bail should not be given to the accused as the investigation was at a crucial stage and his case was a bit different from the other accused, involved in this case or any other related to the matter.

The CBI case pertains to the director Alok Verma, who had issued an FIR against his deputy Rakesh Asthana, in the Moin Quresh bribery case. As per reports, he was also planning to issue an arrest warrant against the special director, but he was then sent on leave by the government, which intervened later in the case.

Later on, the Supreme Court asked the Central Vigilance Commission to probe the case and appointed a retired Supreme Court judge to look into the matter. The CVC had submitted its report in a sealed cover to the Supreme Court and the next hearing is scheduled for Friday.

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