NEW DELHI, Oct 10: Two top officials of departments under the Union Home Ministry have been directed by a Delhi court to explain how one of the accused in the Rs 3,600 crore VVIP helicopter deal scam was allowed to go to Germany without its permission.
Observing this as a “serious lapse”, special CBI judge Ravinder Kaur issued notices to Joint Director of Immigration Bureau and the DCP of Foreigner Regional Registration Offices (FRRO) seeking their explanations by October 23.
One of the accused Pratap Kishan Aggarwal, Chairman and Managing Director of IDS Infotech, was allowed by the court to travel to UK, Scotland, Denmark, Sweden, France, the Netherlands and Belgium from September 13 to October 6 but it was brought to the notice of the judge that he had also travelled to Germany.
“It is observed that vide order dated September 11, 2013 the applicant/accused Pratap Kishan Aggarwal was permitted to travel to the above said countries. However, despite this order being communicated to the Immigration Authority, he was allowed to travel to Germany.
“For this serious lapse, notice be issued to the Joint Director, Immigration, and DCP, FRRO, for October 23, 2013 for explanation,” the court said.
The observation was made when court was hearing arguments on Aggarwal’s application seeking modification of September 11, 2013 order.
During the hearing, the CBI’s investigating officer showed a copy of a letter sent to the Joint Director of Immigration for compliance of the September 11 order.
Former IAF chief S P Tyagi, his cousins Sanjeev alias Julie, Rajeev alias Docsa and Sandeep, European middlemen Carlo Gerosa, Christian Michel and Guido Haschke are among 13 individuals named in the CBI FIR as accused.
Chandigarh-based Aeromatrix Info Solutions Private limited and its CEO Praveen Bakshi are also accused in the case. Legal advisor and former board member of accused firm IDS Infotech — Gautam Khaitan and Bakshi had allegedly routed bribe money to the Tyagis, CBI had alleged.
The CBI in its FIR has booked all the accused under the provisions of the IPC relating to cheating and criminal conspiracy and the Prevention of Corruption Act. (PTI)
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