india

Updated: Mar 14, 2019 23:54 IST

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday told a city court that it had no objection to the approver application moved by Rajiv Saxena, an accused in the high-profile AgustaWestland chopper scam.

The move comes almost a week after Saxena recorded his statement in the chamber of additional chief metropolitan magistrate, Samar Vishal.

“I am supporting the application of pardon moved by Rajiv Saxena, so as to make him a witness,” said special public prosecutor DP Singh who represents the ED. “He has shown inclination to unravel the truth.”

Singh said Saxena “deserves the pardon sought by him. We vehemently support the plea filed by him”. The court has put the matter for consideration on March 25. The ED in its submission said that “Saxena is connected and privy to the offence of money laundering in the instant case” and has “demonstrated by his conduct” that he is willing to disclose the facts in his knowledge and “the role of various persons involved” in the alleged scam.

The agency told the court that Saxena had helped in the investigation by providing “crucial documents/evidence/facts” that are necessary to unravel the truth. The ED also said that Saxena’s testimony is important so that “guilt of the other accused persons could be brought to home....” Saxena has explained and supported some of the money trails as alleged by the ED and has also given documents related to them, said an official with knowledge of the probe. Saxena’s lawyer, senior advocate Geeta Luthra, said that she is positive that the court will give a favourable judgment. “I think the court will grant him (Saxena) pardon because it gives a lot of weight to an application or support from the prosecution,” she said. On February 27, Saxena had moved an application before the court, offering to make a “true and proper disclosure” if he was granted “pardon”.

Earlier, while filing the application to turn approver, Saxena had told the court that he had taken the decision on his own.