Indian detectives have arrested the chief of a private company which allegedly exported banned chemicals to Iraq, a report said Saturday.Hans Raj Shiv, director of Indian NEC Engineers Private Limited, was arrested on Friday on his arrival from Ukraine, the Pioneer newspaper reported.
Shiv and his firm are being investigated for allegedly shipping "weapons-grade" chemicals to Iraq, which was supposedly used by former president Saddam Hussein between 1999-2001 to build up his arsenal, the report said.
The United States had imposed sanctions against Shiv and his company in February for violating laws which forbid trading chemical and biological weapons, the report said.
Other media reports, quoting investigators, said NEC Engineers shipped 10 consignments of equipment worth 800,000 dollars, which included titanium vessels and centrifugal pumps.
Titanium is frequently used in manufacturing the casing and warheads for missiles.
Shiv was produced before a magistrate who ordered he be kept in custody for 14 days, the Pioneer report said adding that two other officials of NEC arrested earlier had now been freed on bail.
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