New Delhi: An officer who examined CBI second Rakesh Asthana and was moved to Port Blair in public interest , revealed today in the Supreme Court what he called strong proof of the officer's corruption.
AK Bassi has sent in court information of WhatsApp messages and calls that he declares show Mr Asthana took allurement from a business person, Sathish Sana, who wanted to be spared CBI summons in an investigation.Mr Bassi claims the call records develop a link in between Rakesh Asthana and Manoj Prasad, a Dubai-based guy who was allegedly the go-between in the allurement offer.
Prasad was arrested previously this month.
He is the child of previous RAW (Research study and Analysis Wing) director Dineshwar Prasad.Mr Bassi states Prasad hadn't erased his phone information given that March 2017, so the CBI might access all his messages and those of the supposed bribe-giver Sathish Sana.
Mr Bassi told the court in his petition that he feared the guy who replaced him as investigating officer, Satish Dagar, might damage this proof and try to conserve Mr Asthana while framing those investigating him.This is why numerous CBI officers were transferred, included Mr Bassi, who was moved to Port Blair as part of a mass transfer purchased by M Nageswar Rao, who took charge as interim chief of the firm after its leading two, Alok Verma and Mr Asthana, were sent out on leave.The WhatsApp messages in Mr Bassi's petition consist of a January 2018 message in which Manoj Prasad's sibling Somesh Prasad asks him to push Sathish Sana as he can't take panga with them (can't mess with them)too powerful individuals.
Sathish Sana has said in a statement to the court that Rakesh Asthana required a bribe of Rs 5 crore from him.Brothers Manoj and Somesh Prasad apparently provided Mr Asthana's message to Sana, who has likewise moved the Supreme Court for protection.The WhatsApp messages suggest that in January, Somesh Prasad got a message from an unknown person that after 2 months, money is not yet received.
Later, there are messages showing what seems to be a CBI summons for Mr Sana and asking what took place to delivery These do not link straight to Mr Asthana.Mr Bassi states the clincher is a series of calls after Manoj Prasad's arrest on October 16.
Apparently, as quickly as Prasad was detained, his bro Somesh called RAW unique secretary Samant Goel, who then called Rakesh Asthana.
Sources say that the two are buddies.
This is the series of calls that the CBI found suspicious and based its First Information Report (FIR).22.09.05 pm (October 16): Somesh Prasad calls Samant Goel, call lasts 454 seconds22.45.56 pm: Samant Goel calls Somesh Prasad, call lasts 206 seconds6.37 am (October 17): Samant Goel calls Rakesh Asthana, call lasts 171 seconds 6.37 am: Samant Goel calls Rakesh Asthana, call lasts 44 secondsImmediately after, Samant Goel calls Somesh Prasad's other half Neha's phone for a single secondWithin a minute, Somesh Prasad calls back Samant Goel7.04 am (October 17): Rakesh Asthana calls Samant Goel, call lasts 52 seconds12.39 pm: Rakesh Asthana calls Samant Goel, call lasts 40 seconds1.09 pm: Dinesh Prasad calls Samant Goel, call lasts 99 secondsWhat's interesting is the connection between the Prasad brothers and Samant Goel.
Their daddy Dineshwar Prasad, who remained in RAW till 2000, telephoned Samant Goel, a RAW officer.Mr Bassi exposes that the CBI kept an eye on the phones of the Prasad siblings.
According to the transcripts, Somesh Prasad told his father-in-law Sunil Mittal - the alleged collector of the bribe from the Press Club of India - Asthana apna aadmi hai (Asthana is our man) .
Somesh also stated in one call that his sibling had actually satisfied Asthana which Samant Goel had actually cautioned that he needs to not pertain to India at any cost.
It is this proof the CBI had actually described in its FIR against Mr Asthana, but which Mr Bassi has now given the public domain.
Sources near Rakesh Aathana declined to respond however said the reality will come out soon.