Coalscam: Court denies permission to accused to travel abroad

NEW DELHI: A special court today rejected the application of an accused in a coal scam case involving Congress leader and industrialist Naveen Jindal seeking its nod to travel abroad, saying CBI's apprehensions that he might overstay there cannot be termed as "completely unfounded".

Special CBI Judge Bharat Parashar said he does not deem it appropriate to grant permission to 81-year-old Radha Krishna Saraf, Director of Gagan Sponge Iron Pvt Ltd (GSIPL), to go to Canada from July 19 to September 12.

"Coming now to the present application, it will be worthwhile to mention that the apprehension that accused may continue to overstay in Canada on one or the other medical ground beyond the period for which permission has been sought by him does not appear to be a far-fetched situation," the court said.

Senior counsel Mohit Mathur, who appeared for the accused, told the court that Saraf's younger son resided in Toronto in Canada with his family and the accused intended to visit them from July 19 to September 12 this year.

Mathur also argued that there was no likelihood that Saraf would not be available to face the trial and the court might impose suitable conditions as deemed necessary while granting permission to the accused to travel abroad.

Senior public prosecutor V K Sharma opposed the petition saying Saraf had stated that he was suffering from various ailments and has been advised to avoid stress on account of his advanced age and fragile health.

He said when the court, in its June 1 order, had granted exemption from personal appearance to Saraf till the stage of charge, CBI did not oppose it but now there were chances that after reaching Canada, he might continue to over stay there on one or the other medical ground.

"Thus in the overall facts and circumstances of the case and keeping in view the advanced age of accused and the various ailments with which he is suffering, I am of the considered opinion that the restriction put by this court on his right to travel abroad without permission of this court is not only justifiable...but also the denial of permission to him now to travel abroad is a reasonable restriction within parameters of law," the judge said.