A Mumbai court has criticized investigating agencies for their failure to arrest fugitive businessmen Nirav Modi, Vijay Mallya, and Mehul Choksi in a timely manner, allowing them to escape the country. Judge MG Deshpande, presiding over a money laundering case, made these remarks during a hearing regarding a request by Vyomesh Shah to relax his bail conditions for overseas travel.
Shah, an accused in a 2022 money laundering case, sought permission to travel abroad for work purposes, which was opposed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) fearing a recurrence of cases similar to those of the fugitive businessmen. Judge Deshpande noted that the delay in apprehending these individuals by the investigating agencies facilitated their escape.
Expressing concern over the failure of the ED to prevent the flight of these businessmen, the judge emphasized that their ability to flee was a direct consequence of the agencies’ inaction. Nirav Modi and Vijay Mallya are currently residing in the UK and have been declared Fugitive Economic Offenders (FEOs), while Choksi is in Dominica, with the ED seeking to declare him an FEO.
Despite Shah’s plea for relaxed bail conditions to accommodate his work-related travel, the judge underscored the court’s inability to rectify the initial shortcomings of the investigating agencies. However, the court agreed to Shah’s request, stipulating that he must inform the ED of his travel plans before each trip.
The judge reiterated the necessity for the ED to take proactive measures to prevent individuals from absconding and emphasized the court’s firm stance on the matter. Criticizing the sudden objections raised by the ED during court proceedings, the judge affirmed that the court cannot compensate for the failures of investigative agencies in executing their responsibilities effectively.
