New Delhi, Mar 25: Vectra Group Chief Ravinder Rishi, facing CBI probe for alleged irregularities in supply of all-terrain Tatra trucks, has been denied permission to go abroad for business purposes and treatment by a Delhi court which said there is an “apprehension” that he may not return.
Special CBI Judge Ravinder Kaur dismissed Rishi's plea for permission to travel abroad for four weeks.
57-year-old Rishi, a British national, is facing CBI probe over alleged irregularities in supply of Tatra trucks to public sector Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML) by his firm Tatra-Sipox UK.
“As observed by my predecessor (judge) dated October 17, 2012, there is strong apprehension that accused (Rishi) may not return to India once granted permission to go abroad, to participate in further investigation or to face trial and his presence cannot be ensured without wasting lot of time and efforts before the investigating agency or before the court,” the court said.
“I find no ground to allow the application of accused (Rishi) seeking permission to travel to abroad and for suspension and/or withdrawal of the look out circular dated March 31, 2012 during the period of such travel. Thus, the same is dismissed,” the judge said.
Earlier on October 17 last year, a court had dismissed a similar plea by Rishi.
Rishi had sought permission to travel abroad including the UK saying that he was required personally to meet customers, clients, employees and bankers abroad for business purposes and also that he needed to undergo treatment for his ailments.
He told the court that he was suffering from liver ailment and as there is no treatment for the disease in India, he is required to go abroad to seek personal consultation with the doctor.
The CBI, however, had opposed his plea saying he could run his business even from India and the disease with which he was suffering can be treated here.
CBI prosecutor V K Sharma also told the court that letters rogatory have been issued to Czech Republic and it would be sent soon and there was apprehension that if Rishi was allowed to travel abroad, he could influence witnesses.
The court dismissed Rishi's plea saying, “merely for the reason that the accused (Rishi) has throughout participated and cooperated in the investigation does not lead to the inference that there is no apprehension or likelihood of his fleeing from the justice.”
The Vectra chief has been quizzed several times by the CBI in connection with the alleged irregularities in the Tatra truck deal as he has a substantial stake in Tatra Sipox UK.
CBI has lodged a case naming Rishi and unnamed officials of Defence Ministry, Army and BEML for alleged criminal conspiracy, cheating and under various provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act.
The agency is probing alleged irregularities in assigning of supply from the then Czechoslovakia-based Tatra, with which the agreement was originally signed in 1986, to Tatra-Sipox UK owned by Rishi in 1997 showing it as original equipment manufacturer and fully-owned subsidiary of the Czech company.
