Abhishek Verma didn't appear for recording of evidence in cheating case

Businessman Abhishek Verma on Thursday failed to appear before a Delhi court to record his evidence in a cheating-cum-defamation case lodged by him against his US partner as he is in CBI custody in a case involving alleged possession of Defence Ministry's secret documents.

Verma, who was in Tihar Jail along with his Romanian wife for his alleged roles in a forgery case lodged by CBI on Sports Minister Ajay Maken's complaint and Enforcement Directorate's money laundering case, had been remanded in CBI custody till September 14 in a case filed on August 28 under Official Secrets Act.

Verma's counsel RK Gosain told Metropolitan Magistrate Surya Malik Grover that he could not come before the court to record his evidence as he is in CBI custody since September 4.

The judge said "the complainant (Verma) has not come to record his evidence for the third time, try to produce him on the next date of hearing, which is October 11."

Verma's counsel assured the court that his client would appear in the court for recording of his evidence on that day.

"The CBI had registered a fresh case against Verma and his wife Anca Maria Neacsu on August 28 under the Official Secrets Act on a defence ministry's complaint," Gosain said.

The court had taken cognisance of Verma's complaint of cheating-cum-defamation against his US partner on July 4 and had fixed July 21, August 13 and then September 13, for recording of his pre-summoning evidence.