Delhi court allows businessman Manoj Arora to travel abroad – ThePrint –

New Delhi, Dec 27 (PTI) A Delhi court has allowed businessman Robert Vadra’s close aide Manoj Arora, who was earlier questioned in a money laundering case, to travel abroad.

Special Judge Neelofer Abida Perveen allowed Arora to travel to Thailand with his family between December 29, 2024 and January 5, 2025, observing that he was not named as an accused in any of the cases filed by the ED.

The judge noted that Arora was in April 2019, granted anticipatory bail in the case and said the matter persisted beyond the cognizance stage while awaiting Bhandari’s extradition.

The court said it was not on record whether Arora interfered with the processing of letters rogatory (assistance from abroad) or would obstruct the process in any way if allowed to travel to Thailand.

“Given that the applicant is not accused in the case and that the proceedings are still at a preliminary stage, I see no justification in curtailing the applicant’s fundamental right to travel abroad… the applicant will remain suspended/withdrawn in this period,” said the judge.

Arora’s lawyer argued that his client was falsely implicated in the case.

“Investigation in the said ECIR (case filed by ED) has been going on for over 7 years and is still pending, but no trial is pending before this court against the applicant and no incriminating material has been found against him till date. Therefore, the applicant is not even charged as of today,” the application states.

ED Special Public Prosecutor NK Matta opposed the plea, arguing that Arora had absconded in the past and joined the probe only after the court intervened.

He remained evasive in his answers during the ED investigation, Matta said.

The ED said it is awaiting certain crucial evidence against Arora and others in response to the pending demand letter sent to several foreign authorities.

There is a high probability that Arora is absconding and taking refuge offshore to evade justice and launder the proceeds of crimes that were yet to be prosecuted, the ED claimed. PTI UK AMK

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