High Court allows Gaurav Kripal, accused of Rs 300 crore bank fraud, to go abroad, puts this condition | News India

Chandigarh: The Punjab and Haryana High Court (High Court) has allowed Gaurav Kirpal, one of the accused in the Rs 300 crore bank fraud, to go abroad on bail of immovable property worth Rs 1 crore. He wants to visit Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Indonesia and Bangkok in connection with business. The accused has been directed to provide information to the CBI about the places he will visit during his foreign trip. According to the charge sheet filed by the CBI, the accused, along with others, caused a loss of Rs 300 crore to the bank by committing fraud through LOU (Letter of Undertaking). The fraud was mainly committed with Indian foreign banks and others. The case is pending in the Foreign CBI Court in Chandigarh.

Justice Kuldeep Tiwari passed these orders while allowing the petition of Gaurav Kripal. He had challenged the August 3 order by which the special CBI judge of Chandigarh had rejected his foreign travel plea. The petitioner had sought permission to travel for 15 days to Dubai and Abu Dhabi and seven days each to Indonesia and Bangkok. The counsel for the petitioner argued that earlier also, the petitioner had travelled abroad twice during the pendency of this FIR and returned within the time limit, hence there was no danger of him absconding. It was also argued that the trial court dismissed the applications made by the petitioner for the said relief on the basis of mere conjecture and surmises. The trial court, while rejecting the application, said that it did not contain any details as to whom the petitioner wanted to meet/interview and also said that the petitioner could have the said meeting through video conferencing. Opposing the plea, the counsel for CBI argued that the petitioner has filed the present petition after returning from abroad within 21 days and hence it would delay the conclusion of the trial. After hearing arguments, Justice Tiwari permitted him to travel abroad subject to certain conditions, including submitting a full itinerary of the countries to be visited during his stay abroad.