C. Edmonds Allen, former business partner of alleged arms dealer Abhishek Verma, is believed to have corroborated that Verma allegedly received money from a Swiss arms firm on promise that it will not be blacklisted by the Indian government.
The CBI, which has recorded the statements of Mr Edmonds in the USA, is now preparing to file chargesheet against Verma in four corruption cases, recently registered by the agency, by the end of November.
Sources said, “A joint team of the enforcement directorate (ED) and the CBI recorded the statement of US national C. Edmonds Allen in the USA. He has given details against Verma regarding his alleged illegal activities including his receipt of $5.30 lakh from Switz-erland-based Rheinmetall Air Defence (RAD) AG for bailing it out”.
Edmonds is now being considered as witness in the case, sources said adding that agency officials are now scrutinising his statements.
The CBI on June 8 arrested Verma and his Romanian wife for allegedly receiving money from the Swiss firm.
Statement of Edmonds will be considered as evidence in the court of law as it has been recorded by the ED officials also, sources said.
“Now the agency is preparing to file chargesheet in all four corruption cases registered by the CBI against Verma. The agency has also recorded his statements in connection with its probe in other three cases which are being probed by the agency”, sources said.