Charges framed against Romesh Sharma

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI, AUG. 8. A Delhi court today framed a charge of causing loss of foreign exchange to the country against Romesh Sharma, alleged frontman of the underworld don Dawood Ibrahim, in a case of alleged violation of the Foreign Exchange Regulation Act (FERA).

``I am of the opinion that there is prima facie evidence against the accused to frame a charge for the offence,'' the Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, Mr. V.K. Maheshwari, said.

Romesh Sharma, who has been in Tihar jail for the last two years in connection with several criminal cases, had exported readymade garments worth $3.45 millions without taking permission from the Reserve Bank of India in 1997. The Enforcement Directorate alleged that he failed to bring the export proceeds back to the country within six weeks of the shipment of the goods. Ajay Nayyar was the other partner of the company. Nayyar has been declared a proclaimed offender.

Mr. Maheshwari read over the charge to Sharma and asked him what he would prefer, plead guilty or face trial. The accused preferred to face trial. Mr. Maheshwari fixed August 22 to record statements of prosecution witnesses.

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