VVIP chopper case: Delhi HC reserves order on MGF chief Shravan Gupta's plea against non-bailable warrants

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday reserved its order on a plea filed by Shravan Gupta, chairman of Delhi-based real estate developer MGF Group and a co-accused in the Rs 3,600 crore AgustaWestland VVIP chopper case, seeking quashing of non-bailable warrants (NBW) issued against him for not joining a money laundering investigation being carried out by the ED in the said case.

Gupta's counsel informed the Delhi High Court that his client, who is currently in the UK, will not be able to join the investigation physically owing to his ill health. He said that Gupta can, however, join the ED investigation via video conferencing.

The ED told the court that Gupta failed to join the investigation despite issuance of nine summons by the agency in 2019-2020. The federal agency submitted that Gupta is willfully evading investigation and issuance of non-bailable warrants against him since he is required for "further investigation" in the AgustaWestland scandal.


It might be mentioned here that a special court here in August 2020 had issued NBW against Gupta which was later stayed by the Delhi High Court on Gupta's plea. Since then the stay on NBW is prevailing.

The ED has alleged that offshore entities beneficially owned and controlled by Gupta received proceeds of crime to the tune of Euro 1,912,000 and $3,457,180 (Rs 28,69,94,650) in the VVIP chopper scandal.