MUMBAI, June 26: The Mumbai High Court has granted an extension of six months to the Enforcement Directorate to keep the documents related to the investigations against Shyam Bhatia, former MD of Orson Electronics and chief of Lan Eseda Software Systems. The ED, Mumbai, has been seeking the cancellation of bail granted to Bhatia last June by the additional chief metropolitan magistrate of the 47th court, Esplanade. Bhatia has been in and out of hospital for most of the last year.Last week, it was submitted on Bhatia's behalf before Justice V R Datar that senior counsel V R Manohar was to appear for Bhatia, and since Manohar was appearing in another matter before the Nagpur bench of the High Court, an adjournment should be granted.
While recording the plea of the petitioner, Justice Datar has observed that the court was not willing to grant an adjournment, but it was being given only in view of the submission that it would not be sought again. The matter now stands adjourned to June 30.
Justice Datarhas also allowed an extension of six months starting June 30 to the ED for returning the papers related to the investigation under Section 41 of FERA. Counsel for the ED, R F Lambay relied on the Supreme Court order in Ashok Kumar Jain's case for seeking an extension on the time.
The ED is looking into transactions during Bhatia's tenure with Orson Electronics, in respect of imports of TV kits from Japan in 1986. The ED wants to probe the alleged over invoicing of two consignments and under invoicing of eight consignments.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
