AgustaWestland: Delhi HC permits accused-turned-approver Rajiv Saxena to travel abroad for treatment

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Rajiv Saxena

The Delhi High Court on Monday permitted Rajiv Saxena, accused-turned-approver in money laundering case relating to AgustaWestland chopper deal, to travel abroad for medical treatment for a month.

While allowing Saxena to travel abroad, the Court told him to provide Enforcement Directorate (ED) his travel details including details of hospital, hotel, itinerary of his treatment by June 13.

On June 6, the Court had stayed a trial court order allowing Saxena to travel abroad after the ED informed it that Saxena’s visit will hamper further investigation in the case.

Taking note the contentions of the ED, the Court had sought Saxena’s reply.

Saxena had earlier apprised the Court that he despite suffering from neck pain, numbness and heaviness in legs, radiating back pain and other ailments were cooperating in the probe.

According to the ED, Saxena who was extradited along with corporate lobbyist Deepak Talwar from Dubai to India colluded with Gautam Khaitan, another accused in the AgustaWestland choppers purchase case, for routing the purported kick backs of the deal even as it is understood that Michel had links with him.

The ED has alleged that Rajeev, his wife Shivani Saxena and their two Dubai-based firms — Ms UHY Saxena, Dubai and Ms Matrix Holdings — routed “the proceeds of crime and further layered and integrated in buying the immovable properties/shares among others”.

“These companies further siphoned off the said money/ proceeds of crime in the name of consultancy contracts to Interstellar Technologies Ltd, Mauritius, and others which were further transferred to UHY Saxena, Dubai and Matrix Holdings Ltd. Dubai and others,” the ED had charged.

—India Legal Bureau