Embraer case: Court seeks status report from CBI, asks how much more time to complete probe
CBI director to file a status report in the Embraer aircraft deal corruption case, noting the probe is not complete even after seven years and no purpose will be served to proceed with the trial with a «half-baked case». The agency had filed a charge sheet against arms dealers Arvind Khanna, advocate Gautam Khaitan and businessman Anup Gupta on June 1 last year in the corruption case where kickbacks to the tune of USD 5.76 million were allegedly paid to swing a three-aircraft deal with the DRDO in favour of the Brazilian firm.
The court had taken cognisance of the charges against the accused last year, but the trial could not proceed because the CBI did not apprise the court of how much more time was required to conclude the investigation.
Underlining that the investigation is not complete even after seven years of registering the case, special judge Gaurav Rao said, «Let a detailed report be filed by the IO (Investigating Officer), duly forwarded by the Director CBI, as to how much time he requires to conclude the investigation as the reports already filed so far are almost verbatim of the previous reports.»
During the hearing, Khaitan's lawyer Ramaditya Tiwari argued the investigation is running in oblivion and the CBI, being the premier probe agency, needs to give a time frame. The precious time of the court and the resources are wasted otherwise, he said.
Tiwari cited a Delhi High Court order in which it laid down that if the investigation is not complete, then argument on charge should not be heard in
