Advani demands CBI probe into Scorpene deal

Guwahati, Mar 21 (UNI) Opposition Leader in Lok Sabha L K Advani today demanded a CBI probe and immediate arrest of middleman Abhishek Verma involved in the multi-crore Scorpene submarine deal.

Talking to newspersons here, Mr Advani, for the second consecutive day, slammed the Congress for the Submarine scandal, saying the CBI should be allowed to probe the deal '' which is bigger than the Bofors''.

The former BJP president in New Delhi yesterday described the alleged Scorpene submarine deal as ''much bigger than Bofors'', demanding that the 3.5-billion dollar contract to French firm Armaris be immediately cancelled.

Mr Advani also alleged involvement of Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee in the contract under which six Scorpene submarines are to be built at the Mazagaon Docks in Mumbai.

He said the Scorpene deal and the defreezing of Ottavio Quattrocchi's bank accounts in London would top the National Democratic Alliance's agenda for the rest of the Budget Session of Parliament.

He demanded that the suppliers be made to pay a fine and refund payment made to middlemen with specified interest, arrest of middlemen Abhishek Verma, the son of a Congress leader and businessman, and his associates.

Mr Advani had said the information, which had filtered out of the ''naval war room'', could have been used by middlemen.

Meanwhile, the Navy has dismissed three officers, who have challenged the order in court.

UNI MT KK RL PM1844