This Article is From Jul 17, 2012

Enforcement Directorate registers fresh case against arms dealer Abhishek Verma

Enforcement Directorate registers fresh case against arms dealer Abhishek Verma
New Delhi: The noose seems to be tightening around arms dealer Abhishek Verma. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has registered money laundering case against the businessman and navy war room leak case accused.

Mr Verma has been accused of taking US $530,000 from Swiss arms company Rheinmetall Air Defence AG (RAD) for using his influence to stall the blacklisting proceedings initiated by the government against it after the Ordnance Factory Board scam had surfaced. Mr Verma and his Romanian wife, Ancia Neascu, were arrested by the CBI on June 8 and are currently lodged in Tihar Jail.

The ED registered the fresh case against Mr Verma based on the complaint filed by the CBI.

The duo had been questioned by CBI officials last month regarding transactions of funds between Ganton India and Ganton USA, which are claimed to be Mr Verma's front companies. Out of the $530,000, around $80,000 were transferred into Ganton India's accounts.

The ED is also investigating a money transfer of 410 million dollars into Ganton USA's account by some other companies in Europe. The agency is likely to move a petition today seeking permission to question Mr Verma in jail.

The CBI is also looking into Mr Verma's business relationships with estranged associate C Edmon Allen who has levelled a series of allegations against him with the US Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The CBI had questioned Rheinmetall's then Director Mohinder Sahni and Arjun Arora whose houses were searched.

The CBI had booked the company, Mr Verma and unnamed persons under various sections the Prevention of Corruption Act which relate to giving bribe to influence public servants and carries a punishment of six months to five year.

Recently, Mr Verma had moved a Delhi court with a complaint against his former partner Allen accusing him of cheating him of Rs. 55 crore and forging documents and emails to defame him.

Allen had filed the complaint with the CBI Director and other top officials accusing Mr Verma of receiving funds from RAD for bailing it out. He had also moved ED; based on his complaint the agency registered a preliminary enquiry and now a case.

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