Explainer: The Hyd-based businessman who is at the heart of CBI conflict

The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed the Hyderabad Police to provide adequate security to Satish Sana Babu, the Hyderabad-based businessman who levelled bribery charges against Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Special Director, Rakesh Asthana.

Although the three-judge bench comprising Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justices U U Lalit and K M Joseph granted protection to Sana, it refused to stay the CBI summons for questioning Sana.

What is Sana’s complaint?

The allegation levelled by Sana led to an investigation on Asthana by the CBI director Alok Kumar Verma. The investigation resulted in Asthana, in turn, launching an inquiry into bribery allegations against Verma. The ensuing raids within the CBI headquarters and loss of face for the primer investigation agency led to both officials being sent on leave by orders from the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) and the Centre.

Sana had filed an FIR with the police alleging that he had paid Rs 2 crore bribe to Rakesh Asthana. He requested the SC to provide him with adequate protection on Monday and to carry out his interrogation by the CBI under the supervision of the retired SC judge AK Patnaik.

His name first figured in the Enforcement Directorate (ED) case on meat exporter Moin Qureshi in 2015. He was pulled up again in 2017 for mediating on behalf of the accused in the cases by ED and CBI.

He claims to have paid the Rs 2 crore bribe money to Asthana for exonerating him from the case.

The CBI on October 26, through a notice posted at the door of this Hyderabad residence, summoned Sana for further investigation, following which he sought protection from the SC.

In his application to the SC, he said he would cooperate with the CBI investigation.

The CBI director post has now been assigned to the joint director M Nageswara Rao.

Who is Sana Satish Babu?

Sana Satish Babu, whose complaint has had a domino effect on CBI, hails from Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh and was a former employee of the AP state electricity board, who later on became a businessman.

He is the director for several companies such as Rasama Estates LLP, Goldcoast Properties Private Limited, Matrix Natural Resources Private Limited and East Godavari Breweries Private Limited. Sana was also the former president for the East Godavari District Cricket Association.