Barak deal accused Suresh Nanda's passport suspended

New Delhi, Jan 31 (UNI) The government has suspended the passport of Suresh Nanda, accused in the Barak Anti-Missile System and Armoured Recovery Vehicle defence deal kickback case.

Nanda's passport, seized on October 10, 2006, was suspended by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) yesterday, said the CBI today.

The order comes in the wake of Delhi High Court upholding CBI's plea against granting him permission to go abroad.

Suresh Nanda later moved the Supreme Court for permission to go abroad, which ordered release of the passport on grounds that the CBI did not take permission for retaining the passport after seizing it in 2006.

However, it allowed the CBI to approach the passport authorities for the same purpose.

Following CBI request the MEA suspended Nanda's passport under Section 10(A) of the Passport Act and alerted all immigration check-points, Indian missions abroad and authorities concerned, the CBI added.

Meanwhile, in its statement the CBI today said a commission of ten per cent in the Barak deal was fixed between Suresh Nanda and accused R K Jain, as declared before Tehelka representatives.

Suresh Nanda got foreign remittances equivalent to Rs 400 crore, remitted for purpose of Hotel Claridges in New Delhi, Hotel Sea Rock - Mumbai and land for Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Mumbai.

He has also purchased a star hotel in Faridabad.

As per the Income Tax Act, Suresh Nanda who claimed to be a Non-Resident India (NRI), has since lost his status as a NRI.

Suresh Nanda was also shown as British national in the records of a British company in which he was a director, which was also a fraudulant act, it added.

UNI AN SP MIR KP1919