Did Verma violate secrets act, CBI seeks govt opinion

The CBI has written to the ministry of defence (MoD) seeking its opinion on purported classified documents the agency received from C Edmond Allen, the US-based estranged attorney of controversial arms dealer Abhishek Verma.

The CBI has written to the ministry of defence (MoD) seeking its opinion on purported classified documents the agency received from C Edmond Allen, the US-based estranged attorney of controversial arms dealer Abhishek Verma.

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“We need to know whether these document, claimed to be of defence plans and procurement, are really classified or not. Only the MoD can shed light on that,” a senior CBI investigator said.

He added that: “If the documents are classified, then it makes a case under the Official Secrets Act (OSA). But to lodge a case under the OSA we need a complainant.

If the documents are classified, then the ministry will have to lodge a complaint with us. Only then we can proceed further. We have written to the MoD about it and we hope to get a reply soon.”

Interestingly, according to sources, the MoD also received same set of documents from Allen as well.

But the MoD sent them to the CBI saying the agency is already investigating a case against Verma.

Now the CBI has sent them back to the MoD asking for its opinion on them.

The CBI has already arrested Verma and his Romanian wife Anca Neacsu in connection with another case, again believed to be based on documents sent by Allen.

The investigating agency has alleged that Verma assured Switzerland-based company Rheinmetall Air Defence AG that it would get the company off the Indian government's blacklist in lieu of money.

This is not the first time that Verma is mired in allegations of handling classified documents.