The Delhi High Court today asked the CBI director to be present before the court on February 10 if the agency fails to finish the probe against its then special director Rakesh Asthana.
Asthana and two others are accused of accepting bribe for giving a clean chit to Hyderabad businessman Sathish Babu Sana in a money-laundering case. The accused were booked under charges of criminal conspiracy, corruption and criminal misconduct.
The CBI informed the court that four out of the eight stages of the investigation have been completed. It sought more time to complete the investigation, but the court was skeptical of the agency’s request.
Justice Vibhu Bhakru said that if the investigation is finished in next four weeks, that is before its next hearing on February 10, no assistance of any officer would be required by the court.
In January 2019, the court had given four months to the CBI to probe the charges against Asthana. The court gave two more extensions later (of two months each) to finish the investigation, stating that no further extension will be granted for the same.