Varun Gandhi 'honey-trapped': BJP government complicit in dirty arms deal, says Prashant Bhushan
Prashant Bhushan has said that the Prime Minister's office was aware of the leak concerning information on national security but refrained from taking action.
In Short
- PMO was aware of the leak yet took no action: Bhushan
- US whistleblower Edmonds Allen writes to PMO, alleges Varun has been 'honeytrapped'
- UPA and BJP govt compromised the national security of the country: Prashant Bhushan
BJP MP Varun Gandhi is in the eye of the storm after a US based whistleblower and arms dealer alleged that he has been 'honey-trapped' and compromised by arms dealers in leaking sensitive information concerning national security.
BJP AWARE YET TOOK NO ACTION
In a scathing attack on the current BJP government, senior lawyer Prashant Bhushan alleged that the Prime Minister's Office was aware of the leak yet took no action.
US whistleblower Edmonds Allen has written to the Prime Minister's office alleging that Varun Gandhi, who has been a member of the defense consultative committee has been 'honeytrapped' by arms dealer Abhishek Verma.
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ALLEN'S LETTER CONFIRMS GANDHI'S IMMORAL ACTS
A copy of the letter has been accessed by India Today in which Edmonds Allen has written to the PMO saying, " ..this gentlemen (Varun Gandhi) participates in immoral activities with prostitutes arranged by Abhishek Verma, he also meets management of defense companies at private parties.. solicits business on Abhishek Verma's behest."
The letter written to the PMO on September 16, 2016 also names Air Marshal H Masand, Gili Golan and Wing Commander Sam Surve for conspiracy in leaking sensitive data. Surve is also one of the co-accused in the Navy War Room Leak scandal of 2005.
US whisltleblower Edmonds Allen, who was earlier a close aide of Abhishek Verma, has also sent a copy of the letter to Defense Minister Manohar Parrikar and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval.
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VERMA EMBARKED ON A CRIME SPREE?
In another letter written by Allen to the PMO on August 25, 2016, he accuses Abhishek Verma and Wing Commander Sam Surve of 'embarking on a spree on crimes including selling of defense secrets to foriegn entities'. Both Verma and Surve were named as accused in the Navy War Room Leak Scandal of 2005 and were arrested and later granted bail in 2008 by the Delhi High Court.
It has been alleged by Allen that Verma had access to defense secrets including the minutes of the meeting of Defense Acquistion Council till 2011, despite being an accused in a key navy war room leak scandal. The letter names Commodore Randeep Brar, Wing Commander Sam Surve and Gili Golan as being accomplices in leaking details which compromise national security.
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MONEY LAUNDERING COMPLAINTS AGAINST ABHISHEK VERMA
Another letter written by K.V Chowdhary, Member of Central Board of Direct Taxes on May 30, 2014 to then CBI Director Ranjit Sinha, the Income Tax Department revealed to CBI that the department has received various complaints about Abhishek Verma allegedly in possession of funds in foreign bank accounts through a maze of foreign entities.
Verma allegedly also received USD 53,0000 from black listed defense equipment supplier named RAD of Switzerland. The Enforcement Directorate had also reportedly registered complaints against Verma and others for money laundering and payments through Amex Cards to M/s PB International, an escort service provider in Belgium for obtaining services in India.
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"NATIONAL SECURITY COMPROMISED"
Addressing a press conference, Prashant Bhushan and Yogendra Yadav, leader of Swaraj Abhiyaan alleged that the government of India despite having the information went ahead and signed Rs 58,000 crore deal for procurement of 36 Rafale Aircrafts with a company called Dassault Aviation.
Dassault Aviation has acquired Thales which is the maker of Scorpene. The $6 billion dollar Scorpene deal of 2005 has been under much scrutiny and attack from the current government for involvement of a middleman and receipt of kick backs.
Prashant Bhushan led Swaraj Abhiyaan has accused the erstwhile UPA government and the current BJP government of compromising the national security of the country.
READ| Varun Gandhi honey-trapped by arms dealer, claims US whistleblower; BJP MP rejects charges