Lawyer Gautam Khaitan’s custody with Enforcement Directorate further extended by six days

Special CBI Court today extended lawyer Gautam Khaitan’s custody with the Enforcement Directorate by another six days. The remand is in connection with a case under the Black Money (Undisclosed Foreign Income and Assets) and Imposition of Tax Act, 2015..While pronouncing the order, Judge Arvind Kumar observed that there are fresh witnesses and documents in the case, which needed to be placed before Khaitan by the Agency..Special Public Prosecutor DP Singh today informed the Court that Khiatan’s custody was needed to confront him with Rajeev Saxena in relation to cases other than AgustaWestland..“Khaitan’s relationship with Rajeev Saxena was beyond Agusta. They had a laundering channel. We want to confront them in relation to investigations beyond Agusta”, he said..Singh also informed the Court that the Agency in its investigation has found two new foreign accounts and companies that were used to transact huge amount of proceeds of crime by Khaitan. Singh alleged that the details of information pertaining to the said accounts were wilfully not disclosed by the accused..“Despite having been provided with ample opportunities, the Accused remained evasive and did not disclose the relevant information related to foreign bank accounts and companies owned by him or in which he had a beneficial interest.”.He further stated that the Agency’s investigation has revealed a nexus between Khaitan and the Banda family of Zambia in relation to a money laundering channel..Remarking that the present case was merely “old wine is a new bottle”, Advocate PK Dubey, who appears for Khaitan argued that the Agency had “no new document or material” against Khaitan and his arrest was being used to interrogate him in the AgustaWestland case..“Main reason behind Khaitan’s detention was the fact that ED knew in advance that Rajeev Saxena (another co-accused in the AgustaWestland case) was going to be arrested. Since they cannot arrest me in AgustaWestland, they arrested me under Black Money Act. This is old wine in a new bottle.”.He also submitted that Khaitan was being interrogated the whole day, without letting him properly sleep or rest..Dubey argued that since he was fully co-operating with the investigation, there was no purpose for any further remand..After hearing the parties and perusing the documents provided by the ED, Judge Kumar deemed it appropriate to extend Khaitan’s remand by another six days..In its previous hearing, SPP Singh had informed the Court that the case involves nearly Rs. 800 crore as proceeds of crime under Sections 3 and 4 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002..Khaitan is also one of the accused in the AgustaWestland chopper case. He is accused of receiving kickbacks for the Rs. 3,600 crore defense deal with Italian chopper manufacturer AgustaWestland for 12 AW-101 choppers during the Congress party led-UPA era in 2010..Pursuant to a fresh Enforcement Case Investigation Report, Khaitan was arrested by ED on January 26 under the Black Money Act..On January 28, Special CBI Court had remanded Khaitan to five days’ custody with the Enforcement Directorate..Soon after, on January 31, Dubai-based accountant Rajeev Saxena was also remanded to four days’ custody with ED in connection with AgustaWestland case..Another co-accused in the AgustaWestland scam, Christian Michel was sent to judicial custody till February 26 by a Special CBI Court earlier this month. Michel was extradited from Dubai in December last year. Michel is also accused of having helped AgustaWestland grab the 2010 deal..Khaitan would be next produced before the CBI Court on February 8.