The Delhi High Court, on Tuesday, 20 August, dismissed the anticipatory bail plea of Ratul Puri, nephew of Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath, in a money-laundering case related to the AgustaWestland chopper scam.
The order was passed by Justice Sunil Gaur, who heard the arguments of the counsels for Enforcement Directorate and Puri, earlier in the day.
Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing for Puri, contended that he was cooperating in the investigation and legal malice and vendetta was writ large in the agency's conduct.
Puri, in his plea through advocate Vijay Aggarwal, had challenged the 6 August order of the trial court dismissing his anticipatory bail plea. On 9 August, the trial court issued a non bailable warrant against Puri on the ED's plea.
Additional Solicitor General Aman Lekhi, representing the ED, opposed the plea saying Puri was evasive in his replies to the agency during investigations and his answers were ex-facie misleading.
He said evasiveness of reply is a ground to seek his custodial interrogation.
Court Reserves Order on ED's Plea Seeking Custodial Interrogation of Ratul Puri
Meanwhile, a Delhi court reserved order on the Enforcement Directorate’s plea seeking custodial interrogation of Ratul Puri in connection with the case.
Special judge Arvind Kumar said he will pass the orders after hearing arguments from both the sides.
The ED, which arrested Puri on Tuesday morning in another bank loan fraud case, sought his 14-day custodial interrogation.
The agency had Monday told the court that Puri was evading probe in the case.
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