CBI files forgery case against arms dealer Abhishek Verma

CBI today registered a fresh case against arms dealer Abhishek Verma for allegedly writing a letter to the Prime Minister on a forged letterhead of then Minister of State for Home Ajay Maken seeking easing of business visa norms in 2009.

Acting on Maken's complaint that the letter was forged, CBI registered a fresh case against Verma under section 469 of the IPC which relates to forgery for purpose of harming reputation, agency sources said.

The agency also slapped charges for violation of Information Technology Act and Prevention of Corruption Act in the fresh case, they said.

Verma has moved for bail before a special court here as CBI has failed to file charge sheet in a case against him for allegedly receiving USD 530,000 from Rheinmetall Air Defence AG (RAD) for using his influence to stall blacklisting proceedings initiated by Indian authorities, according to his advocate Vijay Aggarwal.

Verma and his wife, arrested on June 8, are in judicial custody till today. Estranged business associate of Verma, C Edmond Allen, had sent a tranche of documents to CBI and Defence Ministry which included a letter allegedly written on the forged letterhead of Maken.

Verma and Allen, Chairman of Ganton, are entangled in number of litigations against each other in India and the United States.

During the inquiry, CBI found that the letter without Maken's signature was allegedly used to impress Verma's clients and show his influence in the power corridors, the sources said.

The tranche received by CBI also has a letter from one of its the then Superintendents of Police which was also found to be forged, they alleged.

The letter on Maken's forged letterhead was part of alleged dealings between Verma's front company Ganton and a Chinese telecom company working closely with MTNL and BSNL, they said. 

After Home Ministry had in 2009 asked foreign nationals who were not having appropriate visa to return to their countries by October 31, 2009, the telecom company had sought two months extension of the deadline, the CBI sources said.

Verma, through Ganton India, allegedly offered to get this done "at a price," they said.He allegedly attached a 'draft letter' on the letterhead of Maken to buttress his tall claims, the sources said.

The letter had requested the Prime Minister "to take a reasoned view" on the visa issue as there were around "60,000 such personnel on business visa working in various projects."