ED opposes closure report in Naresh Goyal case

MUMBAI: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has told a court here not to accept a closure report submitted by the police in a Rs 46 crore cheating case registered against Naresh Goyal, founder of the now-defunct Jet Airways, and his wife Anita.
MRA Marg police, after a 19-day probe, filed a report in the magistrate court saying allegations of cheating filed by Akbar Travels against the duo were not true. Akbar Travels had alleged that Jet Airways had not paid pending dues of Rs 46.05 crore. Akbar Travels did business of Rs 900 crore with Jet Airways.
The ED had also registered a money laundering case against Jet Airways under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act following the registration of the FIR. The ED urged the court to direct police to properly investigate the case including undisclosed foreign bank accounts of Goyal. ED stated that the closure report has not considered crucial facts and has thus failed to highlight these facts which are vital in establishing the criminal case against the accused.
Rajesh Kumar, assistant director in the ED, on June 15 filed an intervention plea in court against the police move. ED said, “It appears that when Akbar Travels contacted Goyals, they assured their company was in good financial condition.” The Goyals also showed an account in a private bank, branch SUISSE, Switzerland, in the name of Jet Airways (Worldwide) and money in that bank account was more than the dues owed to Akbar Travels.
The ED stated it found deficiencies in the closure report. “In the complaint, it was mentioned that Jeevan Crasta of Akbar Travels had met the Goyals on three occasions and it was imperative to record his statement,” it stated. Police had sought to record Crasta’s statement, but it could not be done since he was admitted in a hospital on January 17 this year. He was discharged from hospital on April 22 and died on May 14.
ED stated it seems police have made an undue haste in submitting the closure report. It also cited the three dates given by the complainant when Akbar Travel official visited Goyals. However, police had said there was no mention of the visitors in the entry book and that Goyal was abroad on those dates. ED stated that the police did not obtain the CCTV footage of Goyals’ building after cops were told that it was not available. “It could have been a piece of evidence”, it stated.