Court asks Abhishek Verma to appear for recording of evidence

NEW DELHI: A Delhi court today issued production warrant against businessman Abhishek Verma for recording of his evidence in a cheating-cum-defamation case lodged by him against his partners, including an American.

Verma, who is in judicial custody in Tihar Jail along with his Romanian wife for their alleged involvement in corruption and forgery cases, will have to appear before the court on October 31 for recording of his evidence.

His counsel told Metropolitan Magistrate Surya Malik Grover that he could not come before the court to record his evidence as he is in judicial custody.

The judge, however, noted that since the case was filed, Verma had failed to appear before the court.

"Issue production warrant against the complainant (Verma) for October 31," the court said, adding that he should appear before the court in person to record the evidence.

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, September 13 and then October 11 for recording of his pre-summoning evidence.

Verma, in his complaint, had alleged that his US business partner C Edmonds Allen, an American attorney, and Delhi-based Arjun Arora had duped him of Rs 55 crore, which was to be paid to him in lieu of his consultancy services to them.

Verma had alleged Allen and Arora also forged several e-mails and documents and sent them to the media for maligning his reputation.