New Delhi, October 23: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Monday suspended its Deputy Superintendent of Police Devendra Kumar, held in the bribery case linked to meat exporter Moin Qureshi. Kumar is suspended minutes after the Special CBI Court granted the agency his 7-day custody. Special CBI Judge Santosh Snehi Mann was told by the CBI counsel that the agency has recovered incrementing evidence against Kumar, indicating his role in the forgery racket run by a section of agency officials under the garb of an investigation.

Kumar was arrested yesterday, based on the statements recorded by Satish Sana, an accused in the Moin Qureshi case. Sana, a Hyderabad-based businessman, has accused him of seeking a bribe of Rs 3 crore. Apart from Kumar, CBI special director Rakesh Asthana is also named in the FIR. Earlier in the day, the Delhi High Court ordered the CBI to not to arrest Asthana till October 29, when it would be hearing his petition seeking the quashing of the FIR against him.

Counsel for CBI said, “Charges very serious against the accused including that of bribery. Charges under the prevention of corruption act along with criminal conspiracy. Charges of extortion and forgery will be added.” Asthana's counsel told the HC bench that his client is being framed by someone "who is himself an accused" in the Moin Qureshi case.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 23, 2018 07:09 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).