New Delhi: A Patiala House court on Wednesday recorded the statement of Rajiv Saxena in connection with his plea to turn an approver in the AgustaWestland case. Saxena, a co-accused in the case, recorded his statement before Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM) Samar Vishal during an in-chamber hearing under section 306 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC).
The entire proceeding lasted nearly three hours. The Enforcement Directorate (ED), which is probing the case, will file its reply post recording of the statement. The arguments on the application of Saxena will take place at 2pm on March 8. On February 27, Saxena had moved an application before Special CBI Judge Arvind Kumar to become an approver in the case.
He had told the court that he was not under any pressure and that no assurance was given to him, neither any sought from him. The ED is being represented by Special Public Prosecutor DP Singh and advocate Naveen Matta, while senior advocate Geeta Luthra and advocate Shivani Luthra are defending Saxena.
The Dubai-based businessman was extradited to India on January 31 in connection with the Rs 3,600 crore deal for the purchase of 12 VVIP helicopters from AgustaWestland. Saxena was allegedly operating a number of bank accounts in Switzerland in which huge amounts of money were deposited, according to a government dossier.
