Court to pronounce order on charges in Tytler's case on Nov 18

Ajay Maken had alleged that a forged letter on his letterhead was written to Singh by Verma seeking easing of business visa norms in 2009

A Delhi court today deferred till next month pronouncing its order on framing of charges in a case in which CBI had named Congress leader Jagdish Tytler and jailed businessman Abhishek Verma in a charge sheet for allegedly sending a forged letter to then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in 2009.

Special CBI Judge Anju Bajaj Chandna, who was scheduled to pass the order today, fixed it for next month as the court had to consider the written submissions of the Verma's counsel given to it yesterday.

"Matter is fixed for further consideration and order on issue of framing of charges on November 18," the judge said.

The court had on September 9 reserved order on framing of charges in the case after hearing arguments of the counsel for the CBI and the accused.

The charge sheet was filed by CBI on a complaint of then Minister of State for Home Ajay Maken alleging that a forged letter on his letterhead was written to Singh by Verma seeking easing of business visa norms in 2009.

Verma and Tytler were named in the charge sheet for the offence of attempting to cheat under the IPC and under provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act. Tytler was earlier granted bail by the court after he had appeared before it in pursuance to summons.

Verma is currently in Tihar Jail under judicial custody after being arrested in various cases lodged against him by CBI and Enforcement Directorate.

In its charge sheet, CBI had 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.

In the charge sheet, CBI had also alleged that its "investigation has... Revealed that Jagdish Tytler had knowingly and actively connived with Abhishek Verma in attempting to cheat M/s ZTE Telecom India Pvt Ltd".

"There was a meeting of minds between Abhishek Verma and Jagdish Tytler in their attempt to cheat ZTE Telecom India Pvt Ltd on the basis of fake and forged letter addressed to the Prime Minister from Ajay Maken, the then MoS (Home Affairs)," the charge sheet said.