What is the case?

CBI’s FIR against agency’s number two, Special Director Rakesh Asthana, a Gujarat cadre officer, was based on the claims of businessman Sathish Sana, who admitted paying Rs30 million (Dh1.5 million) as bribe to Asthana to get rid of the corruption case against him.

Sana was also being probed by CBI for his connection with controversial Uttar Pradesh-based meat exporter Moin Qureshi, who was wanted by multiple agencies since 2014.

An investment banker Manoj Prasad was allegedly hired by Sana to pay the bribe to Asthana. On October 16, Prasad was arrested by CBI’s Anti-Corruption Unit when he came to India to collect and deliver the bribe amount.

In August this year, however, Asthana had alleged that it was CBI chief Verma who took the bribe of Rs20 million from Sana. He had also complained to the cabinet secretary and central vigilance commission (CVC) accusing Verma of trying to interfere in a corruption case involving family members of Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Lalu Prasad Yadav.

CBI has already dismissed Asthana’s allegations against director Verma.