CBI director Rakesh Asthana accused of accepting Rs 2cr bribe

New Delhi: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Director Rakesh Asthana has been booked by his own department for accepting Rs 2 crore bribe in Moin Qureshi money laundering case.

Special Director of Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) Samant Kumar Goel's role is also under the scanner but he has not been made an accused in the FIR.

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The two are under CBI scanner for their involvement in Moin Qureshi's tax evasion case.

Asthana's name was being disclosed by a businessman named Satish Sinha who was under investigation in Moin Qureshi's case led by CBI special Investigation team under Asthana. Satish accused Asthana, a middleman Manoj and Manoj's relatives for harassing him and taking bribes from him. He also revealed that he used to bribe him on behalf of Qureshi. Later, he got his statement recorded before a magistrate.

In 1993, Qureshi started a small slaughter house in Uttar Pradesh's Rampur. By 2003, he became one of the biggest meat exporter of India with many other companies on his name.

Qureshi's name came under Income Tax scanner when Pakistani Sufi singer Rahat Fateh Ali Khan was detained at an Indian Airport for not being able to disclose the source of Rs 56 lakh, which was said to be his performance fees at Qureshi's daughter's wedding.

In 2014, Income tax department raided 15 locations in connection to Qureshi and discovered he has multiple bank accounts abroad.

Asthana was also accused by CBI of trying to spoil the image of CBI director Alok Verma.

In response, Asthana wrote a complaint to the government against Verma that the Director interrupted his work and intervened in the investigation and damaged his image.

Interestingly, In 2014 raids at Qureshi's offices IT department recovered Qureshi's chats on Blackberry Messenger(BBM) with former CBI director AP Singh, which led to Singh's resignation from Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) as a member.

According to The Pioneer:

“It is understood that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and National Security Adviser Ajit Doval were briefed about the developments soon after the CBI’s special wing had intercepted the calls of Manoj. CBI Director Alok Verma has moved files to the PMO recommending the suspension of Asthana. RAW chief AK Dhasmana too has moved files regarding the suspension of Goel from service.”