The CBI produced them before Additional Sessions Judge C H Mali and asked for their transit remand to the national capital where the agency would seek their custodial remand for questioning.

The entire conduct of accused persons is "suspicious" and points out that they were entering into a conspiracy to "favour" Suresh Nanda, the court said in its order while directing the CBI to produce the four before a designated court in Delhi within 48 hours.

The counsel for chartered accountant Bipin Shah argued before the court that he was only a professional and had never engaged in any tax evasion.

Deputy Director of Income Tax Ashutosh Verma took the plea that he had prepared a report which was against the interest of Nandas. However, he could not justify his presence at a hotel room here along with the arms dealer last night when the four were arrested.