HYDERABAD: A six-page complaint submitted by Hyderabad-based businessman Sathish Babu Sana over corruption activities in the CBI had led to the rift between two top-ranked CBI officials of Gujarat cadre -- IPS officer Rakesh Asthana, Special Director of CBI, and the CBI Director Alok Kumar Verma, in connection with Vanpic case.
Sathish Babu made serious allegations against Rakesh Asthana, of having a conversation with a middleman, demanding Rs 5 crore bribe if the complainant did not want to be harassed in connection with Vanpic case.
In the complaint copy available with Express, Sathish Babu said the then Investigation officer of CBI Devender Kumar asked him to appear before him for questioning. On November 1, 2017, Sathish Babu appeared before the CBI in Delhi when Sukesh Gupta, Shabbir Ali and Moin Akthar Qureshi were also present.
“The IO asked me about Rs 50 lakh cash paid to Qureshi. I denied it stating that he invested Rs 50 lakh in Qureshi’s company -- Great Height Infra and he paid IT returns for that money paid to Qureshi,” he said.
On December 2, 2017, Sathish Babu met one Manoj Prasad who runs Q Capital business in Dubai. “Manoj Prasad had given assurance that his brother Somesh Prasad had good contacts in CBI office and asked to pay `5 crore bribe to CBI officers through him.”
Somesh Prasad showed the caller ID of a CBI officer with whom he spoke and that was Rakesh Asthana. “After I made the payment, I received another notice asking to appear before the CBI. On September 25, 2018, while I was leaving for Paris, I was stopped at the airport by immigration officers,” he said.
CBI to probe TDP MP
It is reported that a TDP MP who made a number of calls to a CBI officer in Delhi requesting the officer not to harass Sathish Babu and not to serve any notices in Vanpic case and issues related to Qureshi. The agency is likely to question the TDP MP from Andhra Pradesh.