CBI to extradite accused in urea scam

The CBI has alleged that Pinto, who had introduced key accused Sambasiva Rao to the Karsan company, had received the money from the Turkish firm in his account during the scam period. The money was transferred to the London account of Brasil Trading Company owned by him, CBI alleged.

His London residence and office premises were also raided by the British police last month at the request of the CBI through International Criminal Police Organisation (Interpol). His bank accounts there have also been frozen.

The sources said Pinto had signed a contract with the National Fertiliser Limited (NFL) for supply of urea about four months before the deal was signed with Karsan. However, the earlier contract, signed by Pinto, did not materialise and the NFL signed the agreement with Karsan, the CBI sources said.

After three lakh tonnes of urea did not reach here on schedule, Pinto visited India in late 1995 to assure NFL officials that the supplies would reach soon.