Delhi HC defers hearing on ED plea challenging Ratul Puri's bail to April 27

The Delhi High Court on Monday deferred to April 27 the hearing on Enforcement Directorate plea challenging bail granted to businessman Ratul Puri by a trial court in Moser Baer Bank loan matter.

Justice Rajnish Bhatnagar adjourned the hearing as the ED counsel was not available while the matter was taken up by the court. Senior Advocate Rajiv Nayyar and Advocate Vijay Aggarwal had appeared for Ratul Puri.

Last week, the ED had moved the Delhi HC, challenging bail granted to Puri by a trial court on December 13. In its plea, the ED had stated that Puri has influenced witnesses and bail should not have been granted at least till the examination of prosecution witnesses is complete.

ED further stated that the trial court Judge who granted bail has erred in holding that the apprehension that Puri would tamper with evidence appears to be far-fetched.

The entire record of the accused's company in custody of the official liquidator as the evidence of money laundering clearly do not form part of the record of the accused company as the siphoning has been done throughout of books sales, accommodation entries etc.

On December 13, a trial court had granted bail to Ratul Puri on Rs 5 lakh bail bond and two sureties of like amount. He was arrested by ED in the case on August 19 and since then was in judicial custody and agency custody till December 13.

He recently also was named an accused in Agusta Westland money laundering case.

Ratul Puri is the nephew of Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath. The ED had in October filed a charge sheet against businessman Ratul Puri in connection with Rs 354-crore bank fraud case. The plea is likely to come for hearing on February 10 in Delhi High Court.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had, in August earlier this year, filed a case against Puri, who is the former executive director of Moser Baer India Limited (MBIL), his father Deepak Puri and mother Nita Puri on a complaint filed by the Central Bank of India. Based on the complaint, the ED had arrested Puri on August 19. The bank had accused Moser Baer and its director of defrauding the bank of Rs 354 crores.