Arms dealers' Nandas to be produced in Patiala Court today

Arms dealer Suresh NandaNew Delhi, Mar 10: Arms dealer Suresh Nanda, his son Sanjeev Nanda and others, who were arrested on charges of receiving kickbacks in the controversial Barak missile deal, will be produced in Patiala House Court here today.

Nandas' associates, Chartered Accountant, Bipin Shah and Deputy Director of Income Tax (Investigation), Ashutosh Verma, who were arrested for allegedly manipulating evidence in the Nandas' favour in connection with an income tax case, will also be produced in the court along with them.

They have been accused of manipulating their IT assessments to obscure any financial link to the kickbacks allegedly paid to them in the Barak Missile deal case.

"We would seek police remand for their custodial interrogation," the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) said.

The arrests, made from a famous hotel in Mumbai where the four people had assembled for discussion and negotiation as part of the conspiracy, came a day after the CBI had conducted raids on Suresh Nanda, and the premises of his associates.

The four involved in the scam have been charged under section 120 (B) for criminal conspiracy.

The External Affairs Ministry had earlier suspended Suresh Nanda's passport on the CBI's request.

Suresh Nanda, the son of the former Navy Chief, Admiral S. M. Nanda, is alleged to have received over 450 crore rupees in kickbacks.

Former Defence Minister George Fernandes and the then Naval Chief Admiral Susheel Kumar are also accused in the Rs 1,150 crore Barak missile deal.

Nanda is also an accused in a case involving the purchase of Armoured Recovery Vehicles. (ANI)

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