New Delhi, Oct. 29 -- The Delhi High Court has permitted the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to record the testimony of US-based witness C Edmonds Allen through video conferencing in the high-profile Official Secrets Act (OSA) case against businessman Abhishek Verma and others, setting aside a trial court order that had earlier declined the request.

Justice Sanjeev Narula, delivering judgement, held that the trial court's refusal "converted a safeguard into a barrier," stressing that while secrecy must be maintained, it cannot come at the cost of obstructing justice.

The court ruled that the OSA does not bar examination of witnesses via electronic means and that confidentiality concerns can be adequately addressed through "strict,...