Varun under attack over defence ‘leaks’

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, October 20

The Swaraj Abhiyan today accused the government of “deliberate inaction” over the past defence scams and alleged it was shielding arms dealer Abhishek Verma by not allowing the CBI to file an FIR despite ample evidence against him.

At a press conference, Swaraj Abhiyan leaders Prashant Bhushan and Yogendra Yadav released a letter written by US-based Edmond C Allen, a whistleblower and a one-time partner of Verma, which alleged that BJP MP Varun Gandhi had been honey-trapped to leak sensitive defence documents. The purported letter was written by Allen to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in September this year and it also named a couple of Navy and IAF officers who had been honey-trapped and compromised to leak sensitive data and details. 

Gandhi denied allegations, saying “Have they (Bhushan and Yadav) substantiated any of these insane claims. They have not provided an iota of evidence in their press conference, rather they did not have the courage to take my name.” He said he had not meet Abhishek Verma since 2004. “I shall be filing a criminal defamation case against Bhushan and Yadav. I have clarified that the parliamentary committee on defence holds no sensitive documents,” he said.

Earlier in the day, Bhushan questioned the government, saying “Why does the current BJP government not take any action against the corruption that took place during the Congress regime." He was referring to the Scorpene submarine deal inked in 2005, adding the CBI sought closure in the case and the Delhi High Court accepted it in January 2016. “To date neither any inquiry has been ordered nor any action has been taken at least against the persons who are readily identifiable for compromising national security,” he said.