The Supreme Court has denied a dentist’s plea to investigate former Delhi Police Chief Asthana under the Prevention of Corruption Act. The plea, which aimed to prosecute Asthana, was dismissed by the Court.
New Delhi: The Supreme Court, on Tuesday, rejected a dentist’s appeal against a Delhi High Court ruling that dismissed his petition to prosecute Former Delhi Police commissioner Rakesh Asthana under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
The decision came from a bench comprising Justices Sudhanshu Dhulia and Justice Prasanna Bhalachandra Varale, stating that
“No interference is called for under Article 136 of the Constitution.”
Dr. Mohit Dhawan, a resident of Chandigarh, had filed the plea against the Delhi High Court’s order. The High Court had previously dismissed his plea on February 15, 2021, which sought directions to the Centre, Central Vigilance Commission, and CBI to investigate and initiate criminal prosecution against Asthana based on Dhawan’s complaint.
According to Dhawan, he had filed a complaint against Asthana with the CBI director in 2019, but no action was taken. He accused Asthana of extortion, harassment, and document fabrication by the police.
Dhawan, in his plea to the Supreme Court, argued that the High Court failed to acknowledge the negligence of the CVC in addressing his criminal complaint against Asthana under the Prevention of Corruption Act. He alleged that both the CVC and CBI neglected to address his complaints adequately.
The High Court imposed a cost of Rs 20,000 on Dhawan, payable to the Delhi High Court Legal Services Committee.
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Previously, Dhawan had approached the Supreme Court seeking directions for an investigation and criminal prosecution against Asthana. However, on February 8, 2021, he withdrew the plea from the apex court, expressing his intention to pursue the matter in the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
