By Aakanksha Khajuria

New Delhi, Nov 24 (IANS): The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has alleged that trial court judge is interfering in the investigation conducted by it in the corruption case against controversial meat exporter Moin Akhtar Qureshi, in which former CBI directors Ranjit Sinha and A.P. Singh are also under the scanner.

On November 17, the probe agency moved the High Court seeking stay on the orders passed by the trial court judge, who is hearing the case. "The grievance of the CBI is the learned ASJ is interfering in the investigation being conducted by the CBI," it emphasized.

This came after Special Judge Sanjeev Aggarwal of Rouse Avenue Court, on October 27, summoned agency's joint director, who is supervising the case, to answer the queries. He was asked to appear on November 17.

The CBI submitted that time and again the directions have been issued by the Supreme Court and High Court that senior officers of police and of other authorities need not be summoned to answer the queries of the court.

"It is submitted that vide order dated 27.10.2020. the Joint Director, CBI, who is supervising the investigation, has been summoned to answer the queries raised by the learned trial court Judge, as are mentioned in the orders dated 26.08.2020 and 26.09.2020 despite the status report having been filed," the probe agency told the court.

Pursuant to the contentions made by the CBI, Justice Yogesh Khanna stayed the order dated October 27 and listed the matter to December 22.

Earlier in the day, Special Judge Sanjeev Aggarwal adjourned till December 24 the case after the CBI Special Public Prosecutor informed that the Delhi High Court has put a stay on the earlier order.

The meat exporter was arrested in 2017 for allegedly collecting money from individuals directly or through Hyderabad-based businessman Sathish Sana Babu and using funds to influence CBI probes.