AgustaWestland VVIP Chopper Scam: Accused Rajiv Saxena Sent to 4-Day ED Remand
The bench, which was asked to send him to an 8-15 days remand, decided to granted the agency a four-day custody.
New Delhi, January 31: Businessman Rajiv Saxena, who was extradited from the UAE last midnight, has been sent to a four-day ED remand. A local court before which he was produced in the national capital was convinced by the prosecution's plea seeking his custody. The bench, which was asked to send him to an 8-15 days remand, decided to granted the agency a four-day custody.
Advocate Geeta Luthra, who represented Saxena in the courtroom, had opposed the plea seeking his custody. She alleged that the businessman's extradition was "illegal", and therefore granting his custody would be "incorrect". AgustaWestland Scam: Lobbyists Deepak Talwar, Rajiv Saxena Extradited to India From Dubai at Midnight, ED Takes Custody.
The UAE state security picked up Saxena from his residence at 9:30 am (local time) Wednesday and "illegally" took him to India around 5:30 pm. Luthra alleged that he was not allowed access to his family or lawyers while being sent to India.
"There were no extradition proceedings started in the UAE and Saxena was not allowed access to his family or lawyers or even essential daily medicine," she said.
“He was on board a private jet at the Dubai International Airport. When his lawyers asked to speak to UAE state security and demanded to know what had happened, they were told he's on the flight and can't be stopped,” the counsel added.
The action against Saxena was based on a non-bailable warrant (NBW) issued against him by a Special ED Court on October 6 last year. He, along with lobbyist Deepak Talwar, are accused of using foreign funds to facilitate the payment of bribes in the alleged scam in the proposed procurement of VVIP choppers from AgustaWestland.
(With PTI inputs)
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 31, 2019 07:29 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).