Court begins trial against Tytler, Verma in cheating case

A Delhi court here began the trial against Congress leader Jagdish Tytler and arms dealer Abhishek Verma for allegedly writing a forged letter addressed to then prime minister Manmohan Singh in 2009 seeking easing of business visa norms.

Central Bureau of Investigation Special Judge Anju Bajaj Chandna recorded statement of the complainant, the then minister of state for home Ajay Maken as the prosecution witness in the case. Maken was also cross examined by the counsel for accused in the case.

During the hearing, Tytler and Verma were also present in the court room.

The court on December 9 had framed charges dealing with cheating, forgery, criminal conspiracy of Indian Penal Code and under provisions of Prevention of Corruption Act.

Tytler and Verma had pleaded not guilty and claimed innocence in the case.

The case was filed on a complaint of Maken that a forged letter on his letterhead was written to the prime minister by Verma.

The CBI has alleged that Tytler had "actively connived" with Verma to cheat a Chinese telecom firm and the Congress leader had first shown a "fake and forged" letter to the company's officials, claiming it was written by Maken to the then prime minister.