Corporate espionage case: Huge money paid in lieu of classified documents, CBI tells court
New Delhi: CBI on Thursday told a Delhi court that investigation into the documents leak case has revealed that huge amount of money was paid to various persons, including public servants in lieu of passing on classified documents. The agency, seeking extension of custodial interrogation of two arrested accused, chartered accountant Khemchand Gandhi and Paresh Chimanlal Budhdev, a partner in Mumbai-based M/s Chitale and Associates, by two more days, said national interest was much larger than "personal interest".
During the hearing, the prosecutor showed some documents to the court containing details of alleged money transactions related to the case and said that huge amount of money was paid to public servants as well. The agency said that during the probe, various e-mails exchanged among the accused were checked and details of various persons have been found in it. The prosecutor said the probe has revealed that huge amount of money was given to various persons and bank details of such persons were being checked.
"We do not want to name these persons now but they have to be examined. We are ascertaining some e-mails so that we know as to whom the money was paid," the agency said.
"National interest is involved in this case and it is necessary to grant further time to CBI for further custodial investigation of these two accused (Gandhi and Paresh)," the agency said.
The counsel appearing for Gandhi and Paresh opposed CBI's contentions saying that the agency has not revealed the reasons to seek extension of the police remand.
"They (CBI) have to justify the remand. They have power to arrest but there should be reasons," the defence counsel said.
They contended that their clients have been in CBI custody for last five-six days and the agency was seeking extension of remand without giving any proper details. After hearing the submissions, Special CBI Judge S C Rajan remanded Gandhi and Paresh to CBI's custody till March 21.
