CBI arrests Nandas in Barak missile kickback deal

Mumbai, Mar 9 (UNI) The CBI arrested defence middleman Suresh Nanda, his son Sanjeev Nanda, Chartered Accountant Bipin Shah and a senior Income Tax Department Official for allegedly hatching a conspiracy to benefit them in the Rs 1000-crore controversial Barak missile deal.

In hot pursuit against Mr Nanda for sometime now, the CBI sleuths found the quartet assembled in a five star hotel for discussion and negotiation as part of the conspiracy. Among those arrested was Deputy Director of Income Tax (Investigation) Asutosh Varma.

The quartet was produced before the designated CBI court here this afternoon, with Judge S N Sardesai, finding prima facie evidence against them for hatching a conspiracy, provided a transit demand to the CBI to carry out further probe in New Delhi.

The Nandas had come to Mumbai from Goa, enroute to New Delhi.

Suresh Nanda is known to be a middleman in the defence deal. The arrest came a day after the CBI conducted raids on the arms dealer and his associates across the country.

The CBI had earlier got Nanda's passport suspended by the Ministry of External Affairs.

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