There is a sense of revenge behind challenging my appointment: Rakesh Asthana

New Delhi: Rakesh Asthana, a Gujarat cadre officer of the Indian Police Cadre (IPS), has told the Delhi High Court that a campaign against him is being launched on social media. He said challenging his appointment as Delhi Police chief was an abuse of the legal process and a spirit of revenge.

Regarding the public interest litigation filed against his appointment, Asthana said that since he was appointed special director of the CBI, some organizations have been targeting him and filing petitions against him.

The affidavit states that there are two organizations, the Common Cause and the Center for Public Interest Litigation, which are public interest applicants on a commercial basis and exist only to sue in the sole form of public service. One or two individuals can run these organizations with the help of heavy and extensive control.

Asthana further said that for some direct and indirect reasons, the people who run the organization have started proceedings against me in recent days at the behest of someone or revenge.

This affidavit has been filed in response to a public interest petition filed against me. The petition seeks annulment of the Home Ministry's July 7 order appointing Asthana as Delhi Police chief. Asthana said only the central government could consider the creditworthiness aspect of his appointment.