A Delhi court on Wednesday discharged alleged arms dealer Abhishek Verma and his wife Anca Maria Neacsu in money laundering and corruption cases.
According to a complaint that was lodged by the Directorate of Enforcement on the basis of a corruption case lodged by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Abhishek Verma, Messrs Ganton India Pvt. Limited and Anca Maria Neacsu had received funds from abroad, including funds obtained from Messrs Rheinmetall Air Defence (RAD) , for influencing public servants in India for stalling the process of blacklisting of RAD.
Routed through US firm
The money was routed through Ganton Limited, U.S.A. and, therefore, they committed the offence of money laundering in terms of Section 3 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), the Directorate alleged.
According to the Directorate, Messrs Ganton Limited, U.S.A. was incorporated in the State of Delaware, United Sates, by C. Edmonds Allen at the request of Abhishek Verma. Messrs Ganton India Pvt. Limited is a fully-owned subsidiary of Messrs Ganton Limited, U.S.A., the Directorate said.
‘Intentional involvement’
Abhishek Verma and Anca Maria Neacsu intentionally indulged in such activities and involved themselves in the money laundering activities, the Directorate further alleged.
Discharging the accused, Special Judge Anju Bajaj Chandna said: “The charge in the case of scheduled offence have not been framed, and vide my separate order of today's date, accused persons have been ordered to be discharged noting that no offence under Section 8 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 or under Section 120B IPC is attracted as ingredients are not fulfilled thereof.”
Transfer not illegal
“It has also been observed that transfer of funds from Messrs Rheinmettal Air Defence to Messrs Ganton USA cannot be termed as illegal gratification and further, no criminality can be attached to the transfer of funds by Messrs Ganton USA to Messrs Ganton India. In such situation since there is no existence of proceeds of crime no question of proceeds/money being laundered or projected as untainted arises,’’ the Judge said.
“In view of the fact that accused persons have been discharged in the case of scheduled offence, the present case has become groundless and there is no ground to proceed further against the accused persons. Accordingly, all the accused persons are also discharged from this case,’’ the Judge said.
