A farewell parade was organised on Sunday evening at Parade Ground, new Police Lines in the national Capital for the outgoing Police Commissioner, Rakesh Asthana. Asthana, a1984-batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer of the Gujarat cadre, was appointed as Police Commissioner of Delhi in July, 2021, just four days before his superannuation. Asthana, had also served as the Special Director of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
During his stint in the CBI, he was engaged in an unsavoury spat with the then CBI Director Alok Verma.On his last day of service, Asthana lauded the Delhi Police force and termed it as one of the finest police forces in the whole world. Earlier, during the day, the Special Commissioner of Police, Headquarters, released an official message to all Special CPs, Joint CPs, Deputy Commissioners of Police (DCPs), Assistant Commissioners of Police (ACPs) and all regarding the farewell parade to CP Asthana being organised at Parade Ground, New Police Lines at 4 pm on Sunday.
“All the officers have to reach Parade Ground before 3.30 pm, one inspector, two sub-inspectors, two head-constables and four constables from all the districts should also attend the parade. Dress order uniform is with a peak cap and cross belt,” the message read. “All officers will be present at Adarsh Hall, Delhi Police headquarters at 5.30 pm for farewell function,” it further stated.
In his long span of career, Asthana had investigated the Fodder Scam, a corruption scandal that involved the embezzlement of about Rs 9.4 billion in Bihar. He filed a charge sheet against Lalu Prasad Yadav in 1996. Lalu was arrested for the first time in 1997.
Asthana had also caught DGMS Director General taking bribes in Dhanbad. By that time, this was the first case of its kind in the whole country, when the officers of the Director-General had come under arrest.
Asthana had also examined the case of Asaram Bapu and his son Narayan Sai. The absconding Narayan Sai was caught in Haryana.
Asthana’s career in the police began in 1984 with his posting as Sub-Divisional Police Officer of Petlad town in Anand district, home to Amul. He went on to become Superintendent of Police of Jamnagar, Deputy Commissioner of Police in Ahmedabad in 1990, and later, SP of Patan before he was deputed as CBI SP in 1995 to Dhanbad.