[ICICI Videocon Fraud Case] Bombay HC Reserves Interim Order In Plea Filed by Venugopal Dhoot
![[ICICI Videocon Fraud Case] Bombay HC Reserves Interim Order In Plea Filed by Venugopal Dhoot](https://lawbeat.in/sites/default/files/news_images/Icici videocon_venugopal dhoot.jpeg "[ICICI Videocon Fraud Case] Bombay HC Reserves Interim Order In Plea Filed by Venugopal Dhoot")
The High Court reserved its interim order after Dhoot argued that he had complied with all the notices issued by CBI. He also relied on cooperation which was shown by him with ED in the connected case.
A Division Bench comprising Justice Revati Mohite Dere and Justice PK Chavan of the Bombay High Court on Friday reserved its interim order in the plea filed by Videocon Group Chairman Venugopal Dhoot in the ICICI Videocon Loan Fraud Case.
Senior Advocate Raja Thakare appeared for the CBI and Advocate Sandeep Ladda appeared for the Videocon Chairman Venugopal Dhoot.
Advocate Ladda for Dhoot argued that the mandate of Section 41 of CrPC was not followed by the police. He relied on the investigation done by the ED in the connected case and submitted that Dhoot had appeared before ED multiple times and also during COVID. He further argued that Dhoot is 72 years old and has several health conditions.
Senior Advocate Raja Thakare for the CBI argued that the investigation done by CBI and ED was on a different footing and that charges under which dhoot has been booked are also different. Further, he argued that there were instances where co-accused Kochhar and Dhoot have made attempts not to appear before the agency together.
Thakare said that they could interrogate three of them only twice. However, Advocate Ladda submitted that the three of them were never confronted together.
Dhoot in his plea stated that he had complied with all the notices issued by the CBI and had co-operated with the investigating agency. He also relied on High Court’s observation while granting him bail in the connected case registered by the ED.
Further, it was stated that,
“The Petitioner is a 70 years old senior citizen who as per the health records from various hospitals and eminent doctors, cannot maintain himself on his own without assistance. The Petitioner is a high-risk individual suffering from several ailments which make him vulnerable to even minor exposures especially due to his advanced age.”
Venugopal Dhoot was arrested after Chanda Kochhar granted a loan of Rs. 3250 crores to the Videocon Group which were later declared as Non-Performing Assets. Allegedly, Venugopal Dhoot, as a quid pro quo, made investments in the company of Deepak Kochhar.
Case Title: Venugopal Nandlal Dhoot vs CBI