NALCO graft case: Warrants issued against two firm officials

March 9th, 2011 - 11:42 pm ICT by IANS  

New Delhi, March 9 (IANS) A Delhi court has issued non-bailable warrants (NBWs) against a company’s CMD and another official giving them time till March 18 to appear before it or join the CBI probe into a corruption case involving suspended NALCO chairman A.K. Srivastava.

The warrants were issued against Bhatia Group of Industries CMD G.S. Bhatia and the firm’s marketing director Jaswinder Singh on Central Bureau of Investigation’s (CBI) allegation that they were not assisting it in the probe.

The two are to be quizzed by the CBI in an alleged bribery case involving suspended National Aluminium Company Ltd (NALCO) chairman Srivastava and his accomplice B.L. Bajaj.

CBI special Judge O.P. Saini said: “The name of the two accused figured in the transcription placed on record of the case file, accordingly I am satisfied that their joining investigation is necessary.”

“But both the accused are evading the same. Therefore, I issue NBWs against them. Execute or unexecute it within 10 days,” said the court Tuesday.

The CBI, while requesting for issuing NBWs against them, said: “Despite several directions and notices to them through the company, they have not turned up for joining investigation.”

They are not available either at their residence or at their office.

“An information was received regarding G.S. Bhatia about his being sick and being advised medical tests by a local hospital but the accused could not be found there,” said the CBI.

“As both of them are avoiding to join investigation, therefore, NBWs for their arrest may be issued against them,” said the CBI.

Srivastava and Bajaj are in 14 days’ judicial custody till March 22.

The two accused were arrested Feb 25, after the CBI recovered about 10 kg of gold bricks and jewellery valued at around Rs.2.13 crore from Srivastava and Rs.30 lakh from Bajaj.

The court earlier rejected the bail plea of Anita Bajaj, wife of B.L. Bajaj and co-accused in the case along with the suspended NALCO chief’s wife Chandani Srivastava.

Anita and Chandani were arrested by the CBI Feb 25. They are in judicial custody till March 15.

The CBI has also arrested Ratan Pal Singh, a middleman, in the case. He is in CBI custody till March 10.

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