Naresh Goyal not cooperating in probe: Centre

August 23, 2019 18:37

Naresh Goyal, founder of the now-grounded Jet Airways, is not cooperating in the investigation in a case of alleged fraud of Rs 18,000 crore, the Centre claimed in the Delhi high court on Friday.

The government's submission came during the hearing of Goyal's plea for withdrawing his earlier petition which sought permission to travel abroad.

Goyal, in his fresh application, said the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) has started its probe into the case of alleged fraud of Rs 18,000 crore and he was extending full cooperation to the agency in the investigation and accordingly, was and not pressing for the permission to go abroad at this stage.

To this, central government standing counsel Ajay Digpaul said: "He (Goyal) is not cooperating in the investigation of the case."

However, Justice Navin Chawla did not express anything on merits of the case and said the petition is "dismissed as withdrawn".

The hearing took place amidst the news that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted searches at the premises of Goyal in connection with a case of alleged contravention of the foreign exchange law.

Besides seeking permission to travel outside India, Goyal had also challenged in the court a look out circular (LOC) issued against him on the ground that as on May 25, when he was off-loaded from a flight to Dubai, no ECIR/FIR was registered against him.

Goyal said he came to know of the LOC on May 25 when he and his wife Anita were off-loaded from a flight to Dubai with an onward connection to London.

He said when he had filed the petition in July, he was in an urgent need to travel abroad and thereafter, he received summons from SFIO for recording of statement regarding the investigation which has been initiated.

"The petitioner (Goyal) is participating and fully cooperating in the investigation and has appeared before the authorities on three occasions.

"As the investigation has commenced and since the petitioner is extending full cooperation, he is not pressing the present writ petition at this stage for permission to travel outside India," it said, adding that he be given liberty to avail of the appropriate remedies in future.

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