Hours after the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Special Director Rakesh Asthana moved the Delhi high court against the lodging of an FIR against him in a bribery case, the court directed the CBI to maintain status quo on the criminal proceedings initiated against him. The HC clarified that there was no stay on the ongoing probe.

Justice Najmi Waziri also sought response of the probe agency and its Director Alok Kumar Verma as also Joint Director A K Sharma on the separate pleas of Asthana and Deputy Superintendent Devender Kumar, arrested in the bribery case. The notice has also been issued to Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), which is the administrative arm of the CBI. The order asking the agency to maintain the status quo has been issued on the plea of Asthana only.