VVIP chopper scam: ED moves court seeking NBW against Ratul Puri

Move comes day after court dismissed his anticipatory bail plea

The Enforcement Directorate moved a Delhi court on Wednesday seeking issuance of non-bailable warrant (NBW) against Ratul Puri, nephew of Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath, in connection with a money laundering case related to the AgustaWestland chopper scam.

The move comes a day after the court dismissed his anticipatory bail plea in the now scrapped ₹3,600 crore VVIP chopper deal with AgustaWestland.

The agency on Wednesday told Special Judge Arvind Kumar that Mr. Puri was non-cooperative and untraceable. The court is likely to take up the application for hearing today.

In its application, the agency said that Mr. Puri was directed to join the investigation on Tuesday but he failed to turn up before the agency.

The court had on August 6 dismissed Mr. Puri’s anticipatory bail application, saying the investigation is at a crucial stage and the allegations against him were “grave” and “serious“.

Mr. Puri, chairman of Hindustan Powerprojects Pvt Ltd, had on July 27 approached the court seeking anticipatory bail in the case, saying he feared arrest in the case.