Middleman Saxena opposes ED plea
NEW DELHI: Alleged middleman Rajiv Saxena told a Delhi court on Tuesday that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and other probe agencies took credit of cracking the money-laundering probe related to the Agustawestland chopper scam on the basis of disclosures made by him, yet accused him of non-cooperation.
Saxena was making the submissions before Special Judge Arvind Kumar, while opposing an application by the ED seeking to revoke the ‘approver’ status given to him after granting him pardon in the case.
The agency had approached the court alleging that Saxena withheld information and did not make the compete disclosure during the investigation. The ED has also sought cancellation of bail granted to Saxena. During the arguments on Tuesday, Saxena’s lawyer told the court, “All the agencies take the credit that they have cracked the nut on the basis of this man, still they say he is not cooperating.”
“I (Saxena) was granted bail by the court... They (ED) has no right to say that investigation is going on and I have hid facts and suppressed information,” he told the court.
In its application, the ED told the court that Saxena misled the probe agency during investigation and that he failed to join the investigation citing frivolous reasons after being called by it around 25 times.
“Despite turning an approver, Saxena has been in touch with other persons who are involved in the case. Saxena has a mala f i de i ntent t o s hi el d ot her accused persons and prevent a successful prosecution,” the agency had submitted.
The court had earlier allowed Saxena to turn approver as also his plea for grant of pardon on the condition that he would fully disclose all information in the case.
Saxena, director at two Dubaibased firms — UHY Saxena and Matrix Holdings -- was one of the accused named in the charge sheet filed by the ED in the ~3,600-crore Agustawestland scam.
The Dubai-based businessman was extradited to India on January 31 in connection with the ~3,600-crore scam case relating to the purchase of 12 VVIP helicopters from Agustawestland.