Delhi HC seeks response from Enforcement Directorate in challenge by Ratul Puri to the rejection of anticipatory bail

The Delhi High Court today directed the Enforcement Directorate to file its response to the plea filed by Ratul Puri against the rejection of his anticipatory bail by the CBI Court in connection with the AgustaWestland case. .Puri is the nephew of Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister, Kamal Nath. .A single Judge Bench of Justice Sunil Gaur also directed the Enforcement Directorate to file a status report, detailing the “exact role” of Puri in the case, the extent of attachment of property by the Income Tax Authorities, new developments after the denial of bail and the reason for his custodial interrogation..The Enforcement Directorate will also submit a copy of Puri’s statement recorded under Section 50 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act to the Court..Appearing for the Puri, Senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi argued that there was no need for his custodial interrogation, given that he has already been interrogated by the Agency twenty six times over the last six months..Singhvi further stated that Puri’s name had not appeared in either of the four supplementary complaints filed in the case till date and that even CBI had not named him as an accused in the case..Represented by ASG Aman Lekhi, the Enforcement Directorate, on the other hand, defended the rejection of anticipatory bail on the ground that the investigation in the case was at a “critical stage”..It was also argued that Puri was not cooperating with the investigation and there was a threat of tampering of evidence..The CBI court had earlier this month, refused to grant anticipatory bail to Puri on the ground that the investigation in the case with respect to his role was at a crucial stage..The role of Ratul Puri in the AgustaWestland case surfaced after the deportation of Rajiv Saxena and Sushen Mohan Gupta from Dubai earlier this year. As per the prosecution’s case, there is incriminating evidence against Puri, including the diary of Sushen Mohan Gupta and email recovered from Rajiv Saxena, which showed that Puri was in receipt of the proceeds of the crime in the AgustaWestland deal..The Enforcement Directorate has claimed that Puri is a key link to unearth the modus operandi adopted by all other accused persons to settle the proceeds of crime. It is alleged that Puri used the guise of shell companies to accumulate the proceeds of the crime, which were then parked and laundered to other desired beneficiaries..The CBI Court has also issued a non-bailable warrant against Ratul Puri..The matter will be heard next on August 20..Bar & Bench is available on WhatsApp. For real-time updates on stories, Click here to subscribe to our WhatsApp.