Videocon-ICICI Bank loan case: Mumbai court rejects plea by Venugopal Dhoot challenging his arrest

A Mumbai court on Thursday rejected the plea filed by Videocon Group Chairman Venugopal Dhoot challenging his arrest by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in the Videocon-ICICI Bank loan case..Special judge MR Purwar pronounced the verdict today after reserving the same for order on January 4.The judge reasoned that since it had only remanded Dhoot to CBI custody first, and thereafter judicial custody, it could not review its own order. "It is settled that the criminal court cannot recall or review its own order. The Ld. Predecessor of this Court has already decided and rejected objection of the applicant/accused regarding his alleged illegal arrest. This Court cannot review its own order. In this view of the matter, the application itself become infructuous", the judge held. .Dhoot had claimed that despite co-operating with the CBI, he was mechanically arrested two days after former ICICI Bank CEO Chanda Kochhar and her husband Deepak had been arrested. Advocate Sandeep Ladda, appearing for Dhoot stated, that the remand order of the Kochhars also recorded the submission made by their lawyers as to why Dhoot had not been arrested. The apprehension, Ladda argued, was that Dhoot may become an approver. This created pressure on the agency, who then “had to mechanically arrest Dhoot”, Ladda argued. .Ladda further contended that the agency had failed to abide by the guidelines set by the Supreme Court and proceeded to arrest him in an illegal manner, even though he had co-operated on the summons.He informed the court that despite the arrest of Kochhars, Dhoot attended the CBI office on December 26, where was later arrested. Meanwhile, CBI lawyer A Limosin pointed out that Dhoot had not appeared despite issuing summons. .The Kochhars were arrested on December 23 in New Delhi and produced before a Special CBI Court in Mumbai on December 24. Dhoot, meanwhile, was arrested on December 26.They were all remanded to judicial custody till January 10.Chanda is accused of cheating and irregularities in relation to a loan of ₹3,250 crore granted in 2012 to the Videocon Group, which became a non-performing asset for the ICICI Bank..[Read order].Chanda Kochhar, Deepak Kochhar, Venugopal Dhoot sent to judicial custody in ICICI-Videocon loan case