American whistleblower C Edmonds Allen has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s office (PMO), claiming that BJP MP Varun Gandhi has been “honey-trapped and compromised” by arms dealer Abhishek Verma. As per a report in the Economic Times, Allen has alleged that Varun is being blackmailed by arms dealer Abhishek Verma. Along with several photographs, Allen has also provided a CD to corroborate his claims.
However, Varun rejected the charges and stayed firm on his stand that he never shared any sensitive information with anyone. Though he accepted that he knew Abhishek Verma.
Copies of the letter have also been sent to Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval.
Varun was earlier a part of the defence consultative committee. Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders have, however, said that documents or information of classified nature are not shared with members of the parliamentary committee.
The US-based whistleblower is a former agent of Verma and was also an old confidant. Allen turned the tables on him and sent the documents to Indian agencies alleging that Verma was involved in money laundering, tax evasion and dubious dealings with defence manufacturers.
Verma, along with former naval officer Kulbhushan Prashar, former commander Vijender Rana, sacked naval commander V K Jha, former IAF Wing Commander Sambha Jee L Surve, is also facing trial in the 2006 Naval War Room leak case. The case pertains to leakage of over 7000 pages of sensitive defence information from the Naval War Room and the Air Headquarters, having a direct bearing on national security.
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