In an important development in the investigations into UPA era scams, two high-profile persons linked to the scams are being extradited to India from Dubai tonight. According to reports, Rajiv Saxena and Deepak Talwar are being brought to India by investigating agencies.
Lawyers of Rajiv Saxena, who is an accused in the VVIP chopper scam, has informed that he was picked up by UAE government security agencies today morning in Dubai, and later he was extradited to India in the evening.
Geeta Luthra and Prateek Yadav, lawyers of Rajiv Saxena (in picture, a co-accused in AgustaWestland case): Rajiv Saxena was picked up by UAE state security from his residence this morning at 9:30 am (UAE time) and illegally extradited to India around 5:30pm (UAE time). pic.twitter.com/rzBkIWn6ns
— ANI (@ANI) January 30, 2019
According to advocates Geeta Luthra and Prateek Yadav, the extradition was done illegally as no extradition proceedings were followed in UAE, and Saxena was not allowed to meet his family or lawyers. He was boarded onto a private jet from a private terminal at Dubai International airport, they said.
The lawyers have also said that when they talked to UAE authorities to know what happened, the security agencies informed them that he is on a flight and can’t be stopped, and they were instructed to ask the Indian government about further details.
Lawyers of Rajiv Saxena (co-accused in AgustaWestland case): When his lawyers asked to speak to UAE state security & demanded to understand what happened, they were told he’s on flight & can’t be stopped. When they queried this further they were told “Ask the Indian Government”.
— ANI (@ANI) January 30, 2019
According to media reports, another accused in the scam, Deepak Talwar is also being extradited to India tonight, who is a lobbyist and was involved in several aviation deals during the UPA government.
AgustaWestland Case co-accused Deepak Talwar to be extradited tonight pic.twitter.com/49JUdKLUhb
— TIMES NOW (@TimesNow) January 30, 2019
Talwar also lives in Dubai, and earlier was barred from leaving UAE by a court in another case, which was seen as a setback in the efforts of India to get him extradited.
Deepak Talwar, a corporate lobbyist, to be brought to India along with Rajiv Saxena (an accused in AgustaWestland case) by the plane of the government of India. Enforcement Directorate to take custody. pic.twitter.com/RwBMQ0AiEU
— ANI (@ANI) January 30, 2019
Both the fugitives are being brought in the same plane of the government of India. ED will take their custody after they arrive in India. According to a report by Times Now, the flight will land at 2:30 AM tonight.
Rajiv Saxena is accused in a money laundering case connected with the AgustaWestland deal. He had filed an anticipatory bail plea in a Delhi court last month, which the ED had opposed. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) had named him in a supplementary charge sheet filed in the VVIP Chopper scam in September 2017. Saxena and his wife Shivani Saxena are directors in two Dubai based companies, while he is a director in another Mauritius based company, and it is alleged that all those companies received proceeds of the kickbacks paid in the AgustaWestland deal.
On December 4, 2018, middleman in the VVIP chopper deal Christian Michel was extradited to India from Dubai. He has already made several sensational revelations in front of investigating agencies. Extradition of Rajiv Saxena and to India will further boost the case where senior Congress leaders and the Gandhi family are directly named as beneficiaries.
Note:This story has been updated with additional information
