The CBI on Monday arrested its deputy superintendent of Police Devender Kumar in connection with bribery allegations involving its special director and second-in-command Rakesh Asthana.

Kumar, who was earlier the investigation officer in a case involving meat exporter Moin Qureshi, has been arrested on the allegations of forgery in recording the statement of Sathish Sana, who had alleged to have paid bribes to get relief in the case.

Asthana, who was booked by the agency on bribery charges in an unprecedented action, had complained against CBI Director Verma on August 24, 2018, that he had taken a bribe of Rs 2 crore from Sana to give him relief in the matter.

DR Karthikeyan, former director, CBI, said, "What is happening is really tragic and very sad. It is always individuals come and go but the damage has been done to the institution and to its credibility."

Consequences on the cases and investigation it can be marginal because if there is a substantive evidence already on record and whoever is going to handle will continue to handle it, he said.

Gopal Krishna Agarwal, BJP spokesperson, said, “This is the exposure of the malice which was happening in this institution over the last several decades."

Aadil Singh Boparai, Congress spokesperson, said, “This is indeed very worrying and unprecedented. We never had this kind of situation where the most premier anti-corruption agency in this country is facing a crisis."

First Published:Oct 22, 2018 10:21 PM IST