NEW DELHI, July 21: Businessman Abhishek Verma today failed to appear before a Delhi court for recording of his evidence in a cheating-cum-defamation case lodged by him against his US partner as the day was fixed for his meeting with his wife in jail.
Verma, who is in Tihar Jail along with his Romanian wife following their arrest for allegedly bribing unknown officials to stall the government’s blacklisting proceedings of a Swiss arms firm, told the court through his counsel that he cannot appear on Saturday as this is a day, fixed for him to meet his wife in jail.
“He (Verma) cannot come for recording of his evidence in the case as per the courts direction, as he has to meet his wife. The jail authorities have allowed him to meet his wife only on Saturday,” the counsel for Verma informed Metropolitan Magistrate Surya Malik Grover.
Taking note of the counsel’s submissions, the court fixed August 13 as the next date of hearing in the case.
The court had taken cognisance of Verma’s complaint on July 4 and had fixed July 21 for recording of his pre-summoning evidence.
Presently Verma and his wife is in jail for allegedly receiving money from a Swiss arms firm to stall blacklisting proceedings against it by the Indian government.
Verma is also an accused in the Naval War Room leak case in which official secrets were leaked to foreign companies. Ravi Shankaran, kin of former naval chief Arun Prakash, is also an accused in this case.
Verma, in his complaint, had alleged that his US-based business partner C Edmonds Allen, an American attorney, and Delhi-based Arjun Arora had duped him of Rs 55 crore, which was to be paid to him in lieu of his consultancy services to them.
Verma’s counsel earlier had moved an application for his production in the case, which was allowed by the court.
As per Verma’s complaint, “Accused persons (Allen and Arora) jointly in connivance approached the complainant (Verma) and dishonestly induced him to render consultancy services to them and have defrauded him to the tune of Rs 55 crore and caused a wrongful loss…Hence, they have committed offence of fraud and criminal conspiracy.”
Verma had alleged that Allen and Arora also forged several e-mails and documents and sent them to the media for maligning his reputation.
“In order to pressurise the complainant to get the matter compromised and to malign his reputation, the accused forged some emails and documents and distributed them among various individuals and media.
“Allen, in connivance with Arora, knowingly distributed preposterous and defamatory e-mails wherein false and fabricated facts have been mentioned and forged excerpts, allegedly taken from the emails sent by the complainant, have been quoted,” said Verma in his complaint. (PTI)
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