HC seeks CBI's reply on Jagdish Tytler's plea

The Delhi High Court today sought CBI's response on Congress leader Jagdish Tytler's petition challenging framing of charges in a corruption case in which he along with controversial businessman Abhishek Verma has been put on trial.
Tytler has been accused of having knowledge of the nature and purpose of transaction entered into between Verma and a private company by allegedly using a fake letter addressed to then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in 2009.
Justice Pratibha Rani issued notice to the investigating agency directing them to file status report before August 22 on a plea seeking setting aside of the trial court's December 9 last year order.

The trial court had framed charges against the leader and Verma while observing that it was evident that Tytler had full knowledge of the nature and purpose of transaction being entered into between Verma and officials of M/s ZTE Telecom India Pvt Ltd.
Verma has also moved the high court earlier this year, on which CBI was directed to file its reply.
The court had framed charges against Tytler, who is out on bail, for alleged offences under various sections of the IPC including 120-B (criminal conspiracy) read with 420 (cheating) and 471 (using as genuine a forged document) and under section 8 of the Prevention of Corruption (PC) Act dealing with taking gratification by corrupt or illegal means to influence public servant.

Verma, who is in judicial custody in various cases lodged against him, was put on trial for alleged offences under sections 120-B read with 420, 471, 511 (attempt to commit an offence) of IPC and under section 8 of the PC Act.

The court had said prima facie, both the accused had tried to cheat the officials of ZTE Telecom India Pvt Ltd on the basis of forged letter and Verma had demanded bribe of Rs 50 lakh to sort out the visa issue of their employees.
CBI had chargesheeted both the accused alleging that M/s ZTE Telecom India Pvt Ltd was adversely affected by the order in which it was said that all foreigners, who were already in India on business visa and engaged in executing projects or contracts, should leave the country on expiry of their existing visas or by October 31, 2009 which ever was earlier.

CBI further claimed that a meeting took place at Tytler's residence where Verma and firm's official were present and during another meeting, the purported forged letter of then minister of state for home Ajay Maken addressed to the Prime Minister was shown to make them believe that visa problem was being sorted out through them.