CBI arrests Abhishek Verma,wife

Sources said that the two were arrested after they refused to cooperate in the probe and denied any association with the US-based Ganton USA. The CBI FIR accuses Verma of receiving $530,000 from Rheinmetall Air Defence AG in 2001 on the promise of using his influence to stall blacklisting proceedings initiated by the government against it after the 2009 Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) scam. The Swiss firm was among the six recommended by the CBI for blacklisting in the case. Verma allegedly received the money in the accounts of Ganton USA. When Verma failed to help Rheinmetall,it demanded its money back. The CBI was tipped off on the entire transaction by Verma’s former associate based in the US,C Edmonds Allen.

The CBI is likely to seek Verma and his wife’s remand on Saturday. Documents seized by the CBI during raids on Thursday reportedly revealed that Maria is a director of Ganton USA and managing director of Ganton India P Ltd. During raids on Thursday,the CBI also seized e-mails exchanged by Verma and Maria with associates. The CBI has also examined former director of Rheinmetall Air Defence AG in India and an accused in OFB scam Mahendra Sahni and Verma’s associate Arjun Arora.

Mukhiya praise: Case against Bihar minister

A case was filed against Giriraj Singh,a state minister for allegedly eulogising slain Ranvir Sena chief Barmeshwar Singh as a Gandhian leader. The petitioner asked how Barmeshwar Singh,an accused in over 200 murder cases,can be compared to Gandhi.