VVIP chopper case: CBI court defers till April 15 hearing in Gupta's bail plea

A special CBI court here has deferred till April 15 hearing in the bail plea of AgustaWestland deal alleged middleman Sushen Mohan Gupta in connection with a money-laundering case against him. Special CBI Judge Arvind Kumar on Thursday posted the arguments in the case for April 15 after Gupta's counsel advocate Siddharth Aggarwal sought time from the court.

On the previous date of hearing on April 9, the Enforcement Directorate filed its reply in connection with Gupta's bail plea. Gupta's arrest was the first one which happened a day after Rajiv Saxena, an accused in the case, was allowed to turn an "approver" by the court. Gupta is currently lodged in Tihar Jail. The court, on April 8, had sent Gupta to judicial custody till April 20. He was arrested on March 26 and sent to the ED custody by the special CBI court.

In his bail plea, Gupta submitted that throughout the investigation he has fully cooperated with the investigation agencies and has complied with all directions given by them adding that he has neither been accused of evading the law nor has he interfered with the investigation in any manner. "...It is submitted that there is no scope for any doubt or apprehension with regard to the Applicant's availability in future before this Hon'ble Court," the plea said. Gupta further submitted that he has in the past always cooperated with the investigation and undertakes to further cooperate in the future as well. It is submitted that there is no necessity or justification to keep the Applicant in further incarceration.

"It is submitted that one of the paramount considerations when considering a prayer for bail is with regard to accused person's tendency to tamper with witnesses and evidence. Insofar as the said consideration is concerned, it is submitted that throughout the investigation of the respondent ED, the applicant committed no act or omission, directly or indirectly, to influence any witnesses or tamper with any evidence," the plea stated further. The ED had previously said that "two diaries" in the form of a pen drive were recovered from the possession of Saxena and that these allegedly belonged to Gupta.

(With inputs from agencies.)