Probe role of Tytler in arms deal: BJD

After cornering the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government on alleged irregularities in the allocation of coal blocks, the Opposition has now opened another front against the Congress. It is now demanding a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the role of Congress leader and former minister Jagdish Tytler in an arms deal.

This time, the attack is led by members of Parliament (MPs) from the Biju Janata Dal (BJD). In a letter to CBI Director A P Singh, the MPs demanded an impartial investigation into the case. “Abhishek Verma (arms dealer) has claimed he regularly met Jagdish Tytler in connection with the stalling of blacklisting Swiss defence firm Rheinmetall. Tytler has claimed his meetings with Abhishek Verma took place because of their old association. Despite all this corroborative evidence, CBI let off Jagdish Tytler after some pleasantries,” stated the letter.

Senior BJD leaders are planning to raise the issue in Parliament, so that all opposition parties could put pressure on the government to act against Tytler.

CBI has already registered a case against Abhishek Verma under the Official Secrets Act (OSA). After Verma’s arrest in June, it filed three cases against him on charges of allegedly receiving money from an arms company in Switzerland.

“CBI should not become party to anything highly sensitive. People expect impartial investigation by the probing agency. We demand the connection of Tytler with Abhishek Verma be probed thoroughly by the agency,” read the letter by BJD. “Abhishek Verma has been booked by CBI for allegedly accepting money to stall the blacklisting proceedings. Since Jagdish Tytler is connected with him (Verma), the former’s invol-vement in this sordid affair needed to be probed,” it added.

Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party has alleged CBI was working like an extended arm of the Union government and protecting the accused.