Court orders CBI probe into assets of former RAW chief

A special Delhi court has ordered an inquiry by the Central Bureau of Investigation into alleged disproportionate assets of former Research and Analysis Wing chief A K Verma, who headed the intelligence agency during the Indian Peace Keeping Force operations in Sri Lanka.

Acting on the plea of former RAW official R K Yadav, Special CBI Judge Pradeep Chaddah ordered the probe agency to depute a senior officer to carry out an investigation regarding ownership and value of the properties mentioned above, which are allegedly owned by the accused and his family.

In his complaint, Yadav has alleged that Verma -- who was the chief of RAW between 1987 and 1990 -- had swindled central funds allocated for the secret operation.

He also alleged that Verma had accumulated assets vastly disproportionate to his known sources of income during his posting as a senior officer of the RAW.

Yadav has given a list of eight properties allegedly owned by Verma and his family which include a house in Noida, properties in a shopping complex in Greater Kailash, flats in Janakpuri and up-market Ferozeshah Road, a farm house in Bijwasan, Mehrauli, a computer factory in Okhla and two flats at Airport Road, Bangalore.

On his part, Verma has refuted the allegations.

"Mr Yadav is a dismissed employee who was dismissed under Article 311 of the Constitution without being given a show-cause notice and I was heading the organisation where he worked. He is trying to have some sort of enquiry started against me for nearly 20 years," Verma told PTI.

Verma said Yadav had written to the prime minister, various Parliamentarians, the Supreme Court and the Chief Vigilance Commissioner during all these years and even got articles published against him in various newspapers, but nobody took any action.

"This is the first time in 20 years plus that an enquiry has been ordered. He had earlier approached the CVC seeking a CBI probe, which was turned down," he said.

About 17 years ago, Verma said, 11 MPs had written to the then prime minister seeking a probe into these allegations, but no action was taken.

The former RAW chief said nothing was purchased by any of his family members without the knowledge of the government.

"My property returns, which I am obliged to file every year, mention the acquisitions as and when they took place. Finally, this fellow (Yadav) has no idea of my or my family's sources of income. He has gone by the assumption that I have my salary as my only source of income. I hope when the inquiry is complete, they take action against the individual who has made false and motivated allegations against me," Verma said.