The CBI has sent documents given by arms dealer Abhishek Verma’s former business partner to the Defence Ministry to seek its opinion whether the documents are classified and their possession would mean violation of the Official Secrets Act (OSA).
Verma and his wife Anca Neascu have been booked by the CBI for allegedly accepting `5.30 lakh dollars from Rheinmetall Air Defence AG, based in Switzerland, through his front company Ganton USA, to stall blacklisting proceedings initiated against Rheinmetall in India. CBI sources said that only after the documents are examined by the MoD, who can opine whether they are confidential or not, a decision can be taken whether Verma be booked under the OSA.
The documents were given to the CBI by C Edmonds Allen, an attorney based in the US, who was a former business partner of Verma. The documents contain details about acquisition plans of the MoD. The CBI has also received documents relating to tie-ups of Ganton, a front company owned by Verma with a helicopter manufacturing company.