Abhishek Verma rejects allegations of purported defence leaks

Controversial arms dealer Abhishek Verma today rejected allegations of purported defence leaks by BJP MP Varun Gandhi to him saying the emails and photographs being circulated are "fabricated" and questioned the motive of the releases made today.

"At the outset, I deny all the allegations contained in the aforesaid 7-page letter. I also deny all the allegations levelled by Yogendra Yadav and Prashant Bhushan today at their press conference.

"Allen is a known forger and he had in the past also morphed some photos of another individual and I had filed a case of criminal defamation against Allen in Patiala House Court on February 6, 2012. The case trial is on and the matter is subjudice," Verma said in a statement issued tonight.
 

He said the so called "emails and photos are fabricated as I had not issued nor photographed Gandhi nor referred to him anywhere.

"These are attempts on part of Allen to defame me, and others named in the letter. Allen is a known forger and there is a suit pending under sections of Information Technology Act and forgery at Patiala House courts which is subjudice therefore, this new act today orchestrated by Allen is true to his nature of character assassination by forgery and deceit.

"I will be initiating a suit for criminal defamation against C Edmonds Allen and maybe against Prashant Bhushan and Yogendra Yadav shortly," he said.

He questioned as to why Allen did not disclose these contents, made public today, when a joint team of CBI and Enforcement Directorate visited the latter in New York in 2012.

"Why is it that Allen did not provide these photos or talked about the angle of blackmailing of Gandhi to the CBI and ED? Why now after four years when last month I was granted bail by Honourable Courts?," he said.

With regard to the Scorpene deal, Verma said the "Delhi High Court had on January 13, 2016 dismissed the PIL filed by Bhushan on Scorpene Submarines purchase in which I was implicated as a party by Bhushan, as it had no merit.

"Bhushan suppressed the above fact of dismissal of his PIL in this issue in his tweet of last week and also in today's press conference. The act of Bhushan today tantamounts to contempt of court," he said.