Delhi’s Rouse Avenue Court on Tuesday granted permission to Advocate Gautam Khaitan, an accused in the scam of the Augusta Westland VVIP Chopper deal to travel abroad for four months.
During the same time, Special Judge Arvind Kumar directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to suspend the Look Out Circular (LOC) issued against Khaitan.
The court was hearing an application filed by Khaitan seeking permission to visit Kazakhstan, Russia, Japan, Thailand, Indonesia, the UAE, the UK, Schengen countries except Italy and Switzerland, Turkey, the US, Ghana, Tanzania, China, Hong Kong, South Africa, Australia, Maldives, and Saudi Arabia in order to redevelop relations and meet with local law firms in order to revive business for his law firm O.P. Khaitan & Company.
Counsel for Khaitan submitted that the level and quality of the work is such that neither “it can be delegated nor electronic media like teleconferencing nor video conferencing can suffice it more particularly in view of the client’s requirements concerns among others.”
On the contrary, CBI counsel opposed the application, claiming that Khaitan is connected to highly influential and powerful people, many of whom are located abroad, and that there is a strong and reasonable fear that he may influence witnesses and tamper with evidence. He contended that granting the application would be detrimental to the case’s future progress.
The court noted that the chargesheet in the current case had been filed and that Khaitan had been granted permission by the High Court to travel to the Philippines and London in 2015. It was also noted that after the registration of the FIR, the accused had visited different countries including London, Dubai, UAE, and Singapore.
Taking note of the submissions, the Court stated, “The reasons assigned by applicant/accused necessitating his visit to these countries including Indonesia, UAE, UK, USA are justified reasons.”
The Court observed, “Nearly 9 years have passed since the registration of the FIR. The chargesheet and two supplementary chargesheets have already been filed. Accused have been granted permission to visit different countries subject to certain conditions which have been complied with by the accused.”
As a result, the court granted Khaitan permission to travel to the aforementioned countries under certain conditions.
Conclusively, the court held, “LOC, if opened, against the accused shall remain suspended/withdrawn during these four months”.
