An arms dealer named Abhishek Verma has deposed before the Central Bureau of investigation (CBI) that Congress leader Jagdish Tytler had told him in 2008 that he had met the then Prime Minister of India, Dr. Manmohan Singh, following which he got a clean chit over his alleged role in a 1984 anti-Sikh riots case.
During a probe by the CBI, Verma’s statement was recorded, during which he also stated that Tytler had struck a deal and a hefty amount was paid to a riots case witness, who had deposed against him earlier. Verma is also an an accused in the naval war room leak and other cases, including cheating and forgery.
The CBI has now filed a third closure report in a Delhi court which on Wednesday heard the arguments on the report and even asked the agency to respond to the allegations that Tytler had tried to influence the witness.
CBI in its closure report stated that Verma’s oral evidence indicated that Tytler might have tried to influence the witness, Surinder. But on the other, CBI said that the versions shared by Verma could not be corroborated as the witness in this matter, Surinder had expired.
Saurabh Pratap Singh, Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate has posted the case for June 26 asking the prosecutor to inform him about the action taken by CBI on the allegations that Tytler had also paid money to the witness and the alleged hawala transaction in this regard.
