AgustaWestland: Ratul Puri's anticipatory bail plea dismissed

A Special CBI court on Tuesday dismissed the anticipatory bail plea moved by Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath's nephew Ratul Puri in a money laundering case related to the AgustaWestland deal.

Special CBI judge Arvind Kumar also turned down Puri's application seeking a copy of his own statements recorded under Section 50 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

Earlier in the day, Puri withdrew his plea filed in the Delhi High Court which sought direction to the trial court to hear two of his applications before passing order on bail plea.

Congress leader and advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi argued that the statements which were not being provided were his clients that Puri had made.

Following the arguments in the high court, Justice Sunil Gaur dismissed the plea after Puri's counsel sought permission to withdraw it. However, the court granted him liberty to approach the trial court with the plea during the day.

Puri is under the scanner for allegedly receiving kickbacks in AgustaWestland deal through his companies.

The ED has alleged that the accounts associated with firms owned and operated by Puri used to receive kickbacks and launder money. IANS