The Supreme Court on Friday (Feb 1) issued notice and sought response from CBI and CBI Interim Director M Nageshwara Rao on a plea filed by DSP A K Bassi challenging the Centre’s order to transfer him to Port Blair.

Bassi has approached the apex court contending that he has been targeted for undertaking a impartial investigation against former CBI Special Director Rakesh Asthana and others.

In the plea, Bassi had claimed that his transfer would prejudice the investigation in the alleged corruption case against Rakesh Asthana who is now Chief of Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS).

“It is passed by an officer/authority not competent to pass such orders. The impugned order intends to victimize the Petitioner herein. The impugned order seeks to unfairly prejudice the investigation against Rakesh Asthana, in FIR RC 13(A)/ 2018/AC-III dated October 15, 2018,” Bassi said in the plea.

Bassi was transferred to Port Blair hours after Nageswara Rao was made the Interim Director of CBI ensuing the Centre’s decision to send the then Director Alok Verma and Asthana on leave aftermath their quarrel.

—India Legal Bureau