Withdraw approver status, Rajiv Saxena misled us: ED to court

NEW DELHI: Miffed over “incomplete” disclosures by Rajiv Saxena, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) today moved a local Court seeking to withdraw his “approver” status in the VVIP chopper scandal.

The agency had earlier moved the Court seeking cancellation of bail granted to accused-turned-approver Rajiv Saxena.

The agency has told the Court that not only Saxena withheld crucial information, refused to make full disclosure but also misled the agency.

The development assumes importance since the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is all set to file its supplementary charge sheet in the case. Saxena may appear as an accused in CBI’s case.

ET was the first to report on June 26 that investigators suspected that the accused-turned-approver Rajiv Saxena deliberately withheld crucial information which could throw light on the role of more individuals, who allegedly paid kickbacks to the high-ups to swing the air force contract in favour of British helicopter manufacturer AgustaWestland.

The investigation into Saxena’s claims have also revealed that he “lied” about a bank account in Mauritius, said people with knowledge of the probe. Certain claims made by Saxena could not be substantiated with evidence on record while some were found to be “untrue”, they said.

In his statement given to the agencies, Saxena claimed that he was fooled by advocate Gautam Khaitan and Sushen Mohan Gupta, both co-accused in the AgustaWestland case. Saxena had submitted that the duo had laundered money using a company, which was shown to be owned by Saxena. However, sleuths have found that Saxena had a bank account in Mauritius which was used to operate that company. Also, Saxena’s signatures on the KYC documents of the account have matched, the people said.

It is also suspected that Saxena “deliberately” did not revealed the role of another individual, a businessman, in the scandal. This businessman, relative of a senior Congress leader, was summoned by the Enforcement Directorate.

In March, a Delhi court had permitted Saxena to become an approver in the case. His application was then not opposed by the ED on the condition that he will make “full disclosure”.

ET had reported on March 13 that Saxena, in his judicial confession, explained the “modus operandi” adopted in routing the alleged kickbacks. He was described as the “key money launderer” by the ED.

Saxena had revealed details of the number of companies created by him, allegedly at the asking of advocate Khaitan, to park and route the kickbacks. He had disclosed his “close ties” stretching over 12 years with Khaitan.

Defence agent Sushen Mohan Gupta’s alleged involvement in the deal was also revealed by Saxena. Gupta was later arrested by the ED.

Saxena is also believed to have disclosed his “link” with co-accused Christian Michel and details of the payments made to him.

The ED had told the court that Saxena revealed “ownership/control” on certain companies which were found receiving proceeds of crime from a company used by Michel.

It had told the court that Saxena, in “connivance with” Khaitan, provided “corporate structure across the globe for laundering operation” and played an active role in laundering the proceeds of crime.