Secrets' leak: noose tightens around arms dealer

The CBI has sought help from the ministry of defence (MoD) to establish the identity of those who may have leaked classified secrets to alleged arms dealer Abhishek Verma. Abhishek Sharan reports.

The CBI has sought help from the ministry of defence (MoD) to establish the identity of those who may have leaked classified secrets to alleged arms dealer Abhishek Verma.

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"The persons, who supplied the classified secrets to Verma, could be former or serving government officials, or even private individuals who had access to them," said a CBI source.

The CBI booked Verma under the Official Secrets Act (OSA) after the defence ministry had confirmed to it that he had allegedly circulated eight classified documents related to defence acquisition plans for commercial interests.

The CBI has lodged four cases against Verma, including one under the OSA, after probing complaints it had received from C Edmonds Allen, a US-based former business associate of Verma.

Verma's lawyer Vijay Aggarwal told Hindustan Times, "The CBI's case against my client is weak since it is based on whatever C Allen, an unpardoned accomplice, is saying. His version cannot be an evidence."

The CBI has also sought help from the United States authorities in "preserving" the details of a few e-mail service servers located in that country. "The servers might contain records of cyber transactions related to the leaked secrets by the accused," the agency official said. The servers will retain all data generated on the accused's email accounts, he said.