Chopper Scam: SC Stays Delhi HC Order Allowing Approver Rajeev Saxena To Go Abroad

The Supreme Court on Wednesday stayed the June 10 Delhi High Court Order giving permission to travel abroad for medical treatment to Rajeev Saxena, initially implicated and then made approver in connection with the Agusta Westland chopper scam.

Acting on Solicitor General Tushar Mehta's opposition to his leaving the country on account of his infractions of the Black Money and Income Tax laws recently having surfaced, the court also sought Saxena's response to this claim of the Enforcement Directorate.

The Apex Court had the day before asked Saxena, an approver in a money laundering case related to the AgustaWestland helicopter scam, to place on record the names of relatives who would serve as his surety in connection with his plea to travel abroad on medical grounds.

The vacation bench headed by Justice Sanjiv Khanna was hearing the Enforcement Directorate's challenge to the Delhi High Court's June 10 order allowing Saxena to go abroad for treatment of blood cancer and other ailments for a month.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the ED, attempted to dissuade the court against Saxena's request being granted- "He is an accused in connection with a huge scam. He is needed to be present for the trial to proceed...he is not even based in India. All the best medical facilities are also available here and will be provided to him..."

"Are you scared he won't come back? Does the government not have the power to get him to return?", asked the bench, adding that Saxena's abroad travel may be made contingent on other stricter conditions.