AgustaWestland Accused Gautam Khaitan Granted Bail by CBI Court

Gautam Khaitan arrives at CBI headquarters in New Delhi. 

(Photo: PTI)

Delhi's Rouse Avenue CBI court on Tuesday, 16 April, granted bail to Augusta Westland accused Gautam Khaitan who was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) under the Black Money Act in January 2019.

According to ANI, the court has put forth conditions for the bail to Khaitan – he cannot influence the witness, nor tamper with evidence, and must provide his contact number and address to CBI.

The court gave the judgment while hearing Khaitan’s bail plea. Earlier, the CBI judge had, on 12 April, deferred the matter till Tuesday, saying that he wanted to go through the charge sheet and other files in the case.

This was the second time Khaitan had sought bail, after the ED had initially opposed his bail plea contending that he is a habitual offender.

Earlier, on 25 March, the Enforcement Directorate had filed a 1,500-page charge sheet against Khaitan under Sections 3 and 4 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

In its charge sheet, the ED alleged that Gautam Khaitan deposited a huge amount of money in offshore accounts. He has also been accused of holding bank accounts abroad and having Rs 6,000 crore, which he didn't disclose in his income tax return.

(With ANI inputs)