MP CM Kamal Nath’s nephew files for anticipatory bail after I-T dept attaches Rs 254 crore worth ‘benami’ equity

Bhopal: Madhya Pradesh chief minister Kamal Nath’s nephew Ratul Puri has moved an anticipatory bail application (ABA) before a Delhi court over an Enforcement Directorate (ED) investigation against him in connection with the AgustaWestland case.

This development comes a day after Puri allegedly vanished leaving the ED’s questioning midway at the probe agency’s office without informing the officials.

There is no clarity if Puri got any hint regarding his arrest by ED following which he fled from the probe agency’s office and ultimately filed an anticipatory bail application.

An ABA is filed by a suspect or accused in anticipation of his/her arrest after which the court can grant the person protection from arrest.

The Income Tax Department attached Rs 254 crore worth of “benami” equity of Puri that he had allegedly received from a suspect in the AgustaWestland VVIP chopper scam case.

I-T officials claimed that Puri allegedly received funds through shell companies from Dubai-based operator Rajiv Saxena, who is an accused in the AgustaWestland VVIP chopper scam case. Saxena is under arrest by the ED in the chopper scam case while Puri is being questioned.

The I-T department alleged that the Rs 254 crore investment made in Optima Infrastructure Pvt Ltd, a group concern of his father Deepak Puri’s company Moser Baer, was generated through “over-invoicing of imports of solar panel” by another group company, HEPCL.

They said Puri is the beneficial owner of these benami held equity shares and has been charged under the Benami Property Transactions Act.

The I-T department had conducted raids on Puri and Deepak’s companies and businesses in April this year during which the documents of these alleged illegal transactions were reportedly seized.