NEWSLINKS
US EDITION
COLUMNISTS
DIARY
SPECIALS
INTERVIEWS
CAPITAL BUZZ
REDIFF POLL
DEAR REDIFF
THE STATES
YEH HAI INDIA!
ELECTION 99
ELECTIONS
ARCHIVES

Search Rediff

Indian embassy in UAE summons Win Chaddha

The Indian embassy in the United Arab Emirates had sent by post to Win Chaddha, the Dubai-based businessman, summons issued by an Indian court in the Rs 640 million Bofors payoffs case.

Indian embassy sources on Thursday said the summons were sent to Chaddha at his designated post box number.

Meanwhile, Khaleej Times said Chaddha's lawyer had responded to telephone messages made to the former Bofors agent's house, to complain that his client was being harassed and that he was not keeping good health.

It appeared that Chaddha was aware of the summons and the date of hearing but did not respond to appearing in the special court for CBI cases on December 14. Subsequently, the court ordered the issue of a non-bailable warrant for the arrest of Chaddha.

The daily quoted informed sources as saying that the judge's order for issue of NBW against Chaddha was expected to be received through the diplomatic bag very soon to facilitate the process of its execution.

Reacting to the likely course of action in the event of Chaddha showing indifference or mute response to the NBW, the sources said, "We have various options but right now would like to keep them close to our chest."

The newspaper said Chaddha remained closeted in his up-market apartment in Dubai. "He is really not well and does not want to talk to anyone," a woman, who identified herself as Chaddha's secretary, said.

Telephone calls on the apartment's PABX numbers and also his private lines were being screened, the daily said and quoted sources close to Chaddha as saying that he lived alone and was ailing.

His son, Harsh Chaddha, also remained unavailable for comment.

Chaddha is one of the accused in the Bofors gun deal case. In the latest developments in the case, the special court ordered the issue of NBW against him after special public prosecutor of CBI submitted that the Dubai-based businessman was aware of the summons issued by the court but did not receive them.

The special public prosecutor also informed the court that the summons were sent to Chaddha by the Indian embassy in the UAE, which also left a telephonic message with his house informing him about the summons and the date of hearing.

UNI

Tell us what you think of this report