Court allows Ravi Ruia to go abroad

Essar Group promoter Ravi Ruia, who is facing trial in a case arising out of the probe into the 2G scam, was today allowed to go abroad by a special court which gave liberty to the CBI to take steps to cancel his bail if he persists with filing pleas in "casual" manner.
"Having allowed the application (to travel abroad), I wish to add that accused is repeatedly filing such applications in a casual and cavalier manner drafted in a language which is vague and uncertain and as such, unbecoming of the court proceedings," Special CBI Judge O P Saini said.

"If the accused persists with such behaviour in future, prosecution is at liberty to take steps seeking cancellation of his bail. I sincerely hope that the accused would not let the situation come to such a sorry pass at the fag end of the trial," the judge said.
The court's observation came while deciding Ruia's plea seeking permission to travel to Russia to attend a meeting with VTB Bank on April 13.
In its order, the court observed that the applications filed by Ruia were "vague" and "meaningless" but as he has to attend an urgent meeting in Russia and as the matter is not listed for hearing during the relevant dates, he is permitted to travel abroad from April 11 to 15.

"However, considering the prayer made by the senior advocate that accused has an urgent meeting in Russia, which is in his business interest, I am inclined to take a little lenient view, more so, when the matter is not listed before the court during April 11 to April 15, 2015, and allow the prayer made by the senior advocate," the judge said.

The court also noted, "in view of lax and not so sanitised use of language in the applications, a lot of court time is wasted in hearing arguments on unnecessary matters and making out correct meaning of the prayer made in the applications."

It said that such "deliberate laxity and levity" was not conducive to the interest of anyone as precious court time was wasted and its attention distracted from the main trial.
Essar Group promoters Ravi Ruia and Anshuman Ruia, Loop Telecom promoters Kiran Khaitan, her husband I P Khaitan and Essar Group Director (Strategy and Planning) Vikash Saraf are facing trial in the case along with three firms, Loop Telecom Ltd, Loop Mobile India Ltd and Essar Tele Holding Ltd (ETHL).
The five individual accused, who are out on bail, have denied all the charges levelled by CBI.