New Delhi, October 23: Central Bureau of Investigation Special Director Rakesh Asthana has been relieved of all duties by the agency's director Alok Kumar Verma, said a media report. The CBI on October 15 registered an FIR against Rakesh Asthana for allegedly accepting bribes to settle a case involving meat exporter Moin Qureshi, who is facing multiple cases of money laundering and corruption.

Meanwhile, the Delhi High Court where Asthana moved a petition against the lodging of the FIR against him posted the matter for October 29. The court also said no coercive action will be taken against Asthana till the next hearing. Asthana, a 1984 batch Indian Police Service officer of Gujarat cadre, was brought to the CBI in 2016 after the NDA came to power in 2014. His elevation to the top post had evoked sharp reactions from the opposition. Rakesh Asthana Bribery Case: CBI Arrests Officer Devender Kumar For Fabricating Statement Against Director Alok Kumar Verma.

Asthana is accused of accepting a bribe of Rs 2 crore from a businessman who was under probe in the Qureshi case to "wreck" the investigation. A special investigation team (SIT) headed by Asthana was examining the case. Asthana had filed a complaint against the CBI Director accusing him of interfering in the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation corruption case involving family members of RJD leader Lalu Prasad.

Subsequently, in a press statement, the agency had denied Asthana's charges against the CBI Director and asserted that the Special Director himself was under probe in half-a-dozen cases and was trying to intimidate officials who were probing his role.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 23, 2018 03:26 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).