The Delhi High Court on Wednesday allowed CBI Director Alok Kumar Verma and Joint Director AK Sharma to inspect in the CVC’s office, the case file relating to the FIR filed against the agency’s Special Director Rakesh Asthana.

Justice Najmi Waziri also extended till December 7 the court’s order directing the CBI to maintain status quo on the proceedings against Asthana, who has sought quashing of the FIR filed against him in a bribery case.

The court permitted Verma to inspect the case file, stated to be in the custody of the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC), on Thursday at 4:30 pm in the CVC’s office where CBI’s Superintendent of Police Satish Dagar will be present at the time of the inspection.

The case files and documents have been sent to the CVC for scrutiny following the Supreme Court’s order directing the vigilance body to inquire against Verma.

The High Court’s order came after the counsel for Verma and Sharma orally submitted that they be allowed to inspect the file to “refresh” their memories as there are allegations of mala fide against them in Asthana’s petition. Sharma has been asked to go to the CVC’s office to inspect the case record on Friday.

During the hearing, the court allowed the plea of Sharma’s counsel that he be allowed to place in a sealed cover certain incriminating material to maintain the sanctity of the institution.

Senior advocates Amrendra Sharan and Dayan Krishnan, appearing for Asthana and CBI Deputy SP Devender Kumar respectively, said Sharma should give the material to the CBI, and if reliance is placed on the documents given by him in the court, they should also be allowed to go through the material.

The court also granted a week’s time to Verma to file his response to the petitions of Asthana and Kumar seeking quashing of the FIR against them.

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