Charges framed in Mother8217;s Pride case

While the chargesheet alleged that Gupta, who started his carrer as an Junior Engineer amassed movable and immovable assets worth Rs 9.5 crore while serving with the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, his wife and three other family members have been accused of 8216;abatement8217; and 8216;beneficiaries8217; of Gupta8217;s corruption.

According to CBI sources, though in usual circumstances, charges are framed within a year of filing the chargesheet, this particular case got dragged on for six years.

8220;It has been a long process but we have been able to frame charges against the accused,8221; said Special Public Prosecutor Naveen Kumar Matta.

According to sources, the CBI has cited nearly 3000 pages of documents in the case and have examined 125 witnesses during its investigation.

Interestingly, the defence counsel of the accused, H L Chopra is a former retired Special Public Prosecutor of the CBI.

The CBI had registered the case on September 29, 1999 and had conducted searches on the next day at Gupta8217;s residential, office and commercial premises which also included some branches of Mother8217;s Pride.