#CBIvsCBI: DSP Devender Kumar released on bail
On Wednesday, a Delhi court granted bail to CBI DSP Devender Kumar, one of the accused in the alleged bribery case against CBI second-in-command, Special Director Rakesh Asthana. Bail was granted after the lawyer representing CBI did not oppose Kumar's bail application. However, he asked for "strict conditions" to be imposed on Kumar's release. Here are the details.
In court, Kumar's lawyer argued that the CBI had violated several rules while investigating the bribery case, and said that it was ironic that only person who stuck to the rulebook i.e. Kumar was in custody. The lawyer demonstrated his case by saying that the CBI did not have a warrant when they raided Kumar's residence and seized mobile phones and other gadgets.
Kumar was released on a personal bond of Rs. 50,000 and a surety in the like amount. The CBI DSP had been arrested earlier this week in connection with the bribery case against Asthana. While the CBI alleged that Kumar had tried fabricating evidence, the DSP claimed that he was being falsely implicated in a power struggle among senior officers in the investigative agency.
Earlier this week, the Delhi High Court also granted interim relief to Special Director Asthana till November 1, asking the CBI to maintain status quo in the investigation in the proceedings against Asthana till the specified date. The Delhi High Court also extended protection from arrest to Asthana till November 1, and asked the CBI to file replies to pleas by Asthana and Kumar.
