The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) late last night arrested Rakesh Kumar Sharma, manager of a company owned by the son of ousted chairman of Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC) B P Verma for his alleged involvement in corrupt transactions. Meanwhile, S Sravanam of A K Enterprises, arrested in Chennai on April 2, was brought to Delhi this morning for interrogation. Both of them will be produced before a special court in New Delhi on Wednesday, said a CBI official. CBI sleuths had arrested Verma, Siddharth and a broker Bhavna Pandey in New Delhi on April 2.
The CBI, which raided the office and residential premises of B P Verma on last Friday and Saturday, has charged the former CBEC chairman and the other co-accused under Section 13 I(D) read with 13 (2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act and 120-B IPC (criminal conspiracy). CBI sources said scrutiny of documents seized from the Vermas' and Pandey's houses revealed assets worth more than Rs one crore, which were in the name of Verma and his family members.
Among the documents were receipts showing nearly Rs 30 lakh in bank accounts and fixed deposits besides an investment of Rs 20 lakh in a private company in the name of his son Siddharth. The assets unearthed included Rs 24 lakh worth of jewellery, besides flats in Kolkata and Delhi.
Verma is charged with extending favours to facilitate exports of the Chennai-based firm through false invoicing in return for financial considerations. The CBI registered a case against Verma, his son, owner of the company Kiran Kumar Moolchand and Vijay Pratap on Thursday.
Bureau Report