Rana Ayyub foreign travel: ED to file status report before Delhi High Court; no relief for Ayyub yet

The Delhi High Court on Friday sought a status report from the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on a plea by journalist Rana Ayyub seeking permission to travel abroad [Rana Ayyub v Union of India and Anr].

Single-judge Justice Chandra Dhari Singh posted the case for further hearing on Monday next week but did not grant any relief today.

Ayyub has approached the Delhi High Court seeking permission to travel abroad after she was prevented by authorities from boarding a flight to London on Tuesday.

She was stopped at the Mumbai airport on Tuesday following issuance of a Look Out Circular against her.

This came after the ED attached her assets worth Rs 1.77 crore in connection alleged irregularities in the collection of charitable funds for Covid relief work.

The agency said it had issued summons to her earlier as well but she did not respond and that it did not want her to leave the country because it would delay the probe and filing of charge sheet in court.

Advocate Vrinda Grover appearing for Ayyub, told the Court on Friday that the case was borne out of mala fide.

"It is ED's case that I have not done proper accounting. All the money in my bank account has been seized. The mala fide is writ large," she said.

She said that the ED's Mumbai office initially had all relevant documents and the same were then transmitted to ED's Delhi office.

She maintained that she has been in regular communication with ED.

ED officer from Delhi later told me that zonal office Mumbai has given them the documents. They asked me join the investigation. I am later informed by my bank that provisional attachment has taken place. This was on Feb 5. On March 8, I receive a communication from Adjudicating Authority. This is show cause notice. Thereafter I am in regular communication with ED office. On March 16, I write to them for copy of complaint along with annexures,"

Grover also proceeded to explain the events of Tuesday when she was prevented from boarding the flight to London.

"I am taking an Air India plane to London. First my travel is approved and then it is cancelled. The timing is very interesting. The boarding time is 2 pm. I am cleared by immigration then suddenly some confabulation takes place and I am detained in a room. I am told by officers there that ED is going to send me summons. Please see the timing of the summons. I have regularly appeared and joined. The summon arrived in my email at 1:46 pm. I have to board at 2 pm. This has all been done in haste," Grover said.

Thus, the summons was an afterthought, Grover alleged.

She demanded whether he fundamental right to travel can be curtailed if she has been critical of the establishment.

Additional Solicitor General SV Raju representing the ED, contended that Ayyub is involved in a very serious offence and has misappropriated funds collected in the name of relief work.

"She is involved in a serious offence. she has misappropriated funds. Money was received not only in Indian currency but in dollars. As far as she is concerned, we have found that fake bills have been submitted by her. We have found that the money for relief work has been siphoned off," the ASG said.

He further submitted that some documents have not been supplied and, therefore, a status report needs to be filed.

The Court allowed the request and asked ED to file status report.

The matter will be heard again on Monday, April 4 at 2.30 pm.