Swiss authorities refuse to share info on Abhishek Verma

In what could be seen as a setback to CBI, the Swiss government has refused to share details and provide assistance in probe into alleged links of businessman Abhishek Verma with Switzerland-based Rheinmetall Air Defence.
After filing chargesheet against Verma, his wife and associate Ancia Neascu, as also Indian representative of Rheinmetall Air Defence AG Gerhard Hoy and the company, CBI had approached the Swiss authorities in early 2014 for details about their links.
However, Switzerland has turned down the CBI's request, saying the Indian authorities did not provide the necessary information, despite being asked to, for such assistance.
When contacted, a spokesperson for the Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland (OAG) told PTI from Berne that the Indian authorities were requested "to deliver additional information to their request for legal assistance".

"As the requesting authorities did not deliver the information required by international assistance law, the OAG was by law not in a position to provide the necessary information.
"The OAG would have assisted according to international assistance law if the respective requirements would have been fulfilled by the Indian authorities," the OAG spokesperson added.

CBI arrested Verma and his wife in 2012 and filed a chargesheet in 2013, accusing the couple of allegedly taking money from a Swiss company for preventing the blacklisting proceedings initiated by the Indian government in connection with the supply of defence equipment.
Verma, who had been earlier arrested by CBI in connection with an alleged fake passport and leaking of secret commercial information from Naval war room to foreign companies, is alleged to have taken USD 530,000 from Rheinmetall Air Defence AG on the promise that he would use his influence to stall blacklisting proceedings initiated by the government against it after the Ordnance Factory Board scam had surfaced.

The CBI alleged that the money was routed into India through a US-based firm Ganton.
The CBI had filed the chargesheet under section 120-B (criminal conspiracy and section 8 of the Prevention of Corruption Act.
This section relates to taking bribe, in order, by corrupt or illegal means, to influence public servants and carries a punishment of six months to five years.