Graft case:Framing of charges ordered against IRS officer, ors

A Delhi court has ordered framing of charges against IRS officer Ashutosh Verma, a businessman and arms dealer Suresh Nanda, for allegedly conspiring to manipulate the report of an income tax investigation.
The court ordered to put them on trial after finding sufficient prima facie evidence to charge them with alleged offences under section 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of IPC and the provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act.
It, however, discharged businessman Sanjeev Nanda who was also chargesheeted by the CBI, saying no prima facie case was made out against him.
Besides Verma and Nanda, the court ordered framing of charges against Bipin Shah, who was alleged to be in constant touch with Verma to get the report diluted.

CBI has alleged that Verma, being the Deputy Director (Investigation), Directorate of Income Tax Investigation, had entered into a conspiracy with Suresh Nanda, his son Sanjeev, Shah and other unknown persons for manipulating the report of the income tax investigation.
The agency has alleged that this was to be done by Verma by abusing his official position and for obtaining pecuniary advantage, with the purpose of minimising the tax liabilities of the Nandas. Verma was probing the financial transactions of Suresh Nanda and his associates relating to income tax evasion and their involvement in defence deals, it claimed.

Special CBI Judge Parveen Singh has now fixed the matter for formal framing of charges against the three accused on December one.

"I find that prima facie there is sufficient evidence before the court to charge accused number 1 (Verma), 2 (Suresh Nanda) and 4 (Shah) under section 120-B IPC, further under section 7 and 13(1)(d) of the PC Act read with 120-B IPC...," the judge said.
"As prima facie case is not established against accused number 3 (Sanjeev Nanda), he is discharged," he said.
During the arguments on framing of charges in the case, all the accused, who are out on bail, have denied the allegations levelled against them by CBI.