Full Order Text
Final Order 5 · 15 Nov 2022 · CNR DLND010094892022
Order Details: COPY OF ORDER Pdf Text: Bail Application No. 1919/2022 VAIBHAV DIPAK SHAH Vs. DIRECTORATE OF ENFORCEMENT 15.11.2022 Present: Sh. Siddharth Singh, proxy counsel on behalf of Sh. Arun Khatri, Ld. Special PP for the Department. Ms. Arveen Sekhon, Ld. Counsel for accused. Order 1. Vide this order, I propose to dispose off the application for anticipatory bail filed on behalf of the applicant. 2. Before proceeding to deal with the factual background, it may be pertinent to note that the bail application of co-accused Rahil Hiteshbhai Chovatia was disposed off by Ld. Bail Roster Judge, Sh. Shailender Malik, ASJ-03, Patiala House Courts, New Delhi vide his order dated 19.10.2022. The facts and circumstances of the present case have been extensively discussed by the said Ld. ASJ in his order dated 19.10.2022 and therefore I have relied upon the contents of the said order and the discussion carried out therein. The said order dated 19.10.2022 is also relevant inasmuch as the role of the present applicant/accused is at the most akin to, if not less than, the role of the said co-accused Rahil H. Chovatia. I say this because of the allegations made in the reply filed by the department and the observations of the Ld. ASJ in order dated 19.10.2022 to which I will hereinafter refer. Vaibhav Dipak Shah Vs. ED Page 1 of 18 -- 1 of 18 -- 3. The factual background of the case has been reproduced in the order dated 19.10.2022 in following words: “2. Before discussing the grounds taken in bail application, it is appropriate to precisely discuss the facts leading to registration of ECIR by the Directorate as well as arrest of the accused. It appears from the record/reply filed by the ED that (i)FIR No.14/2021 dated 18.05.2021; (ii) FIR No.18/2021 dated18.05.2021; (iii) FIR No.19/2021 dated 20.05.2021 were registered by Uttarakhand police for offence under section 420IPC, 66C and 66D of I.T. Act. In Delhi FIR No.141/2021 dated29.05.2021 was registered by Special Cell against unknown persons for offence under section 419, 420, 468, 471 34, 120BIPC as well as section 66D of I.T. Act. Beside these cases FIR No.08/2021 dated 01.06.2021 for similar offences was also registered by CID Cyber rime, Karnataka. It is stated that in all the above mentioned FIRs allegations against the accused are of cheating public through Apps i.e. ‘Power Bank App’, ‘Tesla Power Bank App’ Ezplan App etc. by alluring people in guise of diverting the money deposited through such Apps in short time. It is alleged that many people were cheated, who deposited money through above mentioned Apps. Initially money was credited or returned to investors by 10-15% of the amount deposited as interest. However later money was misappropriated and there was no response from the executives of the said App. It is alleged that money cheated from the public in such manner was onward forwarded to bank accounts of various shell entities through payment gateways like Vaibhav Dipak Shah Vs. ED Page 2 of 18 -- 2 of 18 -- PayU, Razor Pay as well as by normal banking channels. 3.Among the above mentioned five FIRs, Special Cell of Delhi Police has also filed the charge sheet in FIR No.141/2021 wherein it is inter alia alleged that amount of Rs.250 crores was collected through above mentioned payment gateways and more than five lakh victims were cheated. 15accused have been charge sheeted. It is inter alia alleged in the charge sheet that some of the Chinese persons were mastermind of Power Bank App by fraud and they joined Indian people including CA/CS etc for forming companies, appointing Directors, opening of bank accounts, payments gateways and accounts etc. It is stated that since the offence u/s 419, 420, 468,471 and 120B IPC are scheduled offences under Part A Paragraph1 of Scheduled under the PML Act, by the receipt of letter dated10.06.2021 informing about the commission of cheating involving huge amount of money as alleged in those FIRs, facts regarding generation of proceeds of crime from scheduled offence and laundering of such money were investigated and after initial investigation present ECIR was registered. 4. From investigation conducted by the Directorate uptil now it is mentioned that during period August 2020 to June2021, various shell companies M/s Diyabati Technology Private Limited, M/s Maojaja Technology Pvt. Ltd., M/s Sumyth Technologies Pvt. Ltd (first layer entities) were either formed or purchased by Chinese nationals with the help of some Indian professions being CA/CS etc. It is stated that bank account of above mentioned first layered shell companies were used for Vaibhav Dipak Shah Vs. ED Page 3 of 18 -- 3 of 18 -- collecting money from public and cheated money was further layered/laundered through several bank accounts and dummy companies like M/s Akash Corporation, M/s Haresh Corporation,M/s Balaji Traders, M/s Dynamic Fab World, M/s Jitender Enterprises (being second layer entities) during the period August2020 to June 2021. 5.It is mentioned in the reply filed by the ED that analysis of ICICI Bank account no.244605500632 of M/s Diyabati Technology Pvt. Ltd., ICICI Bank account no.244605500407 of M/s Maojaza Technologies Pvt. Ltd. and ICICI bank account no. 244605500408 of M/s Sumyth Technologies Pvt. Ltd. revealed that huge funds were received in the above mentioned bank accounts of shell companies and was transferred to various bank accounts including bank account no.259023954406 of M/s Akash Corporation being maintained in IndusInd Bank, bank account no.201004377970 of M/s Haresh Corporation (second layer entities). It is further in the allegations that the funds so received in the account of second layered entities was further layered/laundered by onward transfer to account no.123805005479 of M/s Sagar Diamonds Ltd. maintained with ICICI Bank and account no.201007176105 of M/s Patel Rushabh & Co. (being third layer entities) maintained in IndusInd Bank. 6. It is stated that the funds so received in the account of M/s Sagar Diamonds Ltd. was further transferred either to its another account no.039392347980 with SBI for making Vaibhav Dipak Shah Vs. ED Page 4 of 18 -- 4 of 18 -- payment remittance in the guise of import or IDFC bank account no.100055588628 and SBI account no.39583280574 of M/s RHC Global Exports Private Limited (4th layer entities). It is stated that on the basis of analysis of bank account of M/s RHC Global Exports Pvt. Ltd., it came in the light that above remitted huge funds brought during the scam period of November 2020 to June2021 in the guise of payment towards imports. It is stated that from the KYC of SBI and IDFC Bank accounts of above said RHC Global Exports Pvt. Ltd as well as KYC bank statement of M/s Sagar Diamonds Ltd. it is noticed that accused/applicant was common Director in both the said companies. 7.It is stated that accused was summoned on06.07.2022 for recording of his statement on 11.07.2022,however instead of joining the investigation accused chose to flee to Dubai for avoiding appearance before the ED. However Bureau of Immigration detained him on 07.07.2022 and thereafter brought him to Mumbai Office of ED where statement of the accused/applicant was recorded on 08.07.2022,13.07.2022, 05.08.2022 as well as on 19.09.2022 at Delhi Office in terms of section 50 of PML Act. It is further mentioned in the reply filed by ED to the bail application that accused/applicant has shifted onus of revealing details on Vaibhav Dipak Shah by stating that he looks after the affairs relating to trade, export/import of M/s Sagar Diamonds Ltd. and M/s RHC Global Exports Pvt. Ltd.” 4. Ld. Counsel for the accused has argued that the twin Vaibhav Dipak Shah Vs. ED Page 5 of 18 -- 5 of 18 -- requirements as required u/s 45 of PML Act are completely fulfilled in the present case. It is stated that accused has been falsely implicated in the present case without any effective involvement in laundering of proceeds of crime. It is stated that transaction between M/s Akash Corporation and M/s Sagar Diamonds Ltd. is a regular business transaction. It is stated that M/s Sagar Diamonds Ltd. is into manufacturing of diamond studded gold jewellery, trading in diamonds and bullion and that company is into such business since long i.e. at least the year 2015 and among many of its customers, one of its customers is M/s Akash Corporation. 5. Ld. Counsel has stated that it is the very case of the prosecution that there are four layers of companies as on date in the present case: 1. Diyabati Technology Pvt. Ltd., Maojaza Technologies Pvt. Ltd., Sumith Technologies Pvt. Ltd. 2. Haresh Corporation, Akash Corporation. 3. Sagar Diamonds Ltd. 4. RHC Global Exports Pvt. Ltd. 6. The present applicant is related to the third layer entity i.e. Sagar Diamonds Ltd. alone. Ld. Counsel submits that the co- accused Rahil who has already been granted bail was in fact related to both the third and fourth layer of companies and the counsel has relied Vaibhav Dipak Shah Vs. ED Page 6 of 18 -- 6 of 18 -- upon the reply filed by the department in support of the said submission. 7. Therefore, at this juncture, the relevant portion of reply filed by the department is being reproduced: “10… …... From the KYC of the SBI & IDFC bank account of M/s RHC Global Exports Pvt. Ltd. And ICICI bank account statement of M/s Sagar Diamonds Ltd, it is noticed that Mr. Rahil Chovatia (present applicant/accused) was the common Director in both the said companies.” 8. It is in fact the case of the department that during interrogation, accused Rahil H. Chovatia “12……..instead of revealing the details asked for, he shifted the onus of revealing the details on Mr. Vaibhav Dipak Shah stating that Mr. Vaibhav Dipak Shah, his brother-in-law, only looks after the matter related to the trading, exports/imports and finance in respect of M/s Sagar Diamond Ltd. and M/s RHC Global Exports Pvt Ltd.” 9. Ld. Counsel further submits that the department has itself stated Para 14 of the reply that: “14….... Further, analysis of the part books of accounts of M/s RHC Global Exports Pvt. Ltd. & M/s Sagar Diamonds Ltd and Bank account statements of M/s Akash Corporation, M/s Patel Rushabh & Co., M/s Haresh Corporation, M/s RHC Global Exports Pvt Ltd and M/s Sagar Diamonds Ltd, it is Vaibhav Dipak Shah Vs. ED Page 7 of 18 -- 7 of 18 -- noticed that M/s Sagar Diagmonds Ltd has received funds to the tune of approx. Rs.160 crores from M/s Akash Corporation, M/s Haresh Corporation and M/s Patel Rushabh & Co. during the period from November, 2020 to June, 2021 which is the scam period.” 10. That even though the department claims that Sagar Diamonds received funds to the tune of Rs. 160 Crores from the second layer entities, yet it was department’s own case that only 7.10 crores was being treated as proceeds of crime by the department. He has relied on Para 19 of the reply which is quoted for ease of reference: “19…... Money trail of the POC and the analysis of the bank accounts involved has revealed that during the scam period from August, 2020 to June, 2021, POC to the tune of Rs.7.10 crores has been layered through the bank accounts of M/s Akash Corporation, M/s Pate Rushabh & Co., M/s Haresh Corporation, M/s Sagar Diamonds Ltd & M/s RHC Global Exports Pvt Ltd and finally remitted aborad in the guise of payments towards imports.” 11. Ld. Counsel submits that the recent decision of the Supreme Court in Vijay Madanlal Chaudhary and Ors. Vs. Union of India (Supreme Court, 2022) has settled the controversy viz-a-viz the expression proceeds of crime and the scope of investigation under PMLA. He has specifically relied on Para 250 to 253 and Para 282 of Vaibhav Dipak Shah Vs. ED Page 8 of 18 -- 8 of 18 -- the said judgment. He submits that in the present case only five FIRs are the genesis of investigation and can be treated as predicate offence. The claim of the Delhi Police that there are more than 5 lakh victims in the present case, is based on the analysis of bank statements showing inflow of money in the accounts of first layer companies. He submits that in the absence of complaints on behalf of large number of investors or verification by police, the claim is only an assumption. Even otherwise, the charge-sheet only refers to 25 complainants and the proceed of crime would have to be construed accordingly. Even otherwise, he submits that since the money has been received in regular business transaction by the third layer company associated with the accused, even if the claim of Delhi Police was believed, there is no presumption that accused has committed any offence related to proceeds of crime. 12. Ld. Counsel has next relied upon Section 19 of the PML Act to contend that the power to arrest can only be exercised if the department was already in possession of material, and had recorded the reasons in writing for arrest as also concluded that the accused was prima facie of guilty of offence of money laundering. He submits that in the present case, the department has so far not been able to collect such a material and the claim that the co-accused Rahil H. Chovatia has given a statement that it is the applicant who is having knowledge of affairs of the third and fourth layer entities, cannot be considered legally admissible material. Further, it is not the applicant but the accused Rahil H. Chovatia who is common to both the third and Vaibhav Dipak Shah Vs. ED Page 9 of 18 -- 9 of 18 -- fourth layer companies. Therefore, in fact applicant’s case is better than that of co-accused Rahil H. Chovatia who has already been admitted to bail. 13. Ld. Counsel for the department has on the other hand contended that the present applicant is a majority share holder in Sagar Diamonds and secondly, the statement of accused Rahil H. Chovatia only indicates that it was the applicant who was running the affairs of both Sagar Diamonds as well as RHC Global Exports Pvt. Ltd. and only he could answer or provide the necessary material. 14. Ld. Counsel for the department submits that the Apps used to collect money from public were introduced in February-March 2021 and the first and second layer companies were formed in the year 2020/2021 and had no previous business and therefore the purpose of forming such companies was only to commit the fraud. 15. Ld. Counsel submits that even though the department has only been able to identity Rs. 7.10 Crore as proceeds of crime, it is likely that if the investigation proceeds, the department may be able to identify more amount. Ld. Counsel submits that the transactions of foreign purchase, import in India of diamonds and its subsequent sale thereof to the second layer companies and then reutilization of the purchase money for further purchase and import of diamonds is a sham transaction, cyclic in nature only for laundering money. 16. Ld. Counsel submits that no diamonds were ever imported or purchased from India and thereafter sold to the second layer companies but only money was routed through third and fourth Vaibhav Dipak Shah Vs. ED Page 10 of 18 -- 10 of 18 -- layer companies by the applicant and co-accused Rahil H. Chovatia and Saurin Shah. Ld. Counsel has stated that the affairs of the company i.e. Sagar Diamonds need investigation and the same may reveal large scale money laundering by the said company. 17. Ld. Counsel has relied upon several decisions to contend that accused persons involved in economic offence ought not to be admitted to bail and are required to be dealt with sternly. 18. Ld. Counsel has stated the NBWs have already been issued against the accused and he has relied upon the decision Shafi S.M. Vs. State of Kerala and Ors. decided on 13.07.2020 by Kerala High Court to contend that anticipatory bail cannot be granted to a person qua whom NBWs have been issued and who is not in India. 19. In rejoinder, Ld. Counsel for the applicant stated that firstly this Court is bound by the observations made by a Court of equal jurisdiction in the same matter and has claimed parity viz-a-viz accused Rahil as also relied upon the observations made by the Court viz-a-viz applicability of Section 45 of PMLA to the present case. 20. He has next relied upon the recent decision of the Supreme Court in Satender Kumar Antil Vs. CBI and Ors. to contend that the Supreme Court has stated that merely because accused is involved in an economic offence that is not itself sufficient to treat him as a class apart and ultimately the punishment provided for a particular offence is also required to be considered. He has further stated that in order to show his bona fides, his client has already booked his tickets to travel to Delhi from 28.11.2022 to Vaibhav Dipak Shah Vs. ED Page 11 of 18 -- 11 of 18 -- 03.12.2022 and that his client will not only join the investigation but also cooperate in the same. 21. He has further stated that even though his client has received the money from second layer companies in a business transaction, to show his bona fides, his client undertakes to deposit the entire alleged proceeds of crime to the tune of Rs. 7.10 Crores with the trial Court and the refund of the same can be made subject to the outcome of the case or further orders of the Court. 22. I have gone through the material placed before me by both sides. As on date, the best case of the department against the accused is that they have identified the flow of Rs. 7.10 Crore as proceeds of crime to third layer company i.e. Sagar Diamonds from the second layer companies, which money was thereafter given to the fourth layer company i.e. RHC Global Exports Pvt. Ltd. The accused Rahil H. Chovatia is the common factor in both the third and fourth layer companies whereas the applicant/accused is related to only the third layer company. In that view of the matter, his case is on a better pedestal than the case of the accused Rahil. 23. Ld. Counsel has placed on record a chart showing the documents furnished by the accused to the department through his other director, which prima facie shows an intent to cooperate in the present case. However, before saying anything further, I would rely on the stand taken by the department. Relevant portions of the stand as contained in Para 10, Para 12, Para 14 and Para 19 have already been quoted herein above. Besides the aforesaid paragraphs, the stand of Vaibhav Dipak Shah Vs. ED Page 12 of 18 -- 12 of 18 -- the department as contained in para 20 to 22 is also relevant and is quoted herein below: “20. From the analysis of the KYC documents with respect to IDFC bank account no. 10055588628 & SBI Bank account no. 39583280574 of M/s RHC Global Exports Pvt Ltd and SBI bank account no. 039392347980 & ICICI bank account no. 123805005479 of M/s Sagar Diamonds Ltd, it is noticed that Mr. Rahil Chovatia has been authorized signatory on-behalf of both the companies. Thus, all the payments in the guise of sale and purchase in both the companies were in his knowledge. 21. Mr. Rahil Chovatia, through his company M/s RHC Global Exports Pvt Ltd, has entered into bogus transactions with M/s Sagar Diamonds Ltd, which has received funds of approx. Rs.160 crores from shell entities M/s Akash Corporation, M/s Patel Rushabh & Co. and M/s Haresh Corporation during the scalm period August, 2020 to June, 2021. Further he, through his company M/s RHC Global Exports Pvt Ltd has also executed sham transaction with M/s Akash Corporation during November, 2020 to March, 2021. 22. Further it is pertinent to mention here that this Directorate has identified M/s Sagar Diamonds Ltd and M/s RHC Global Exports Pvt Ltd for their involvement in the offence of money laundering by trailing POC to the tune of Rs.7.10 cr.” 24. The above stand of the department also shows that the role of accused Rahil H. Chovatia was key, even as per the department. Although, I need not go into the merits of probable defence at this stage, but a claim that money was sent abroad and the claim of import of diamonds being raised by the applicant and third layer company was bogus would have to be seen in the light of import documentation and clearances obtained from Vaibhav Dipak Shah Vs. ED Page 13 of 18 -- 13 of 18 -- various departments including customs. Such a claim that entire transaction is bogus cannot be readily inferred. 25. In any event, at this stage, I may refer to the order passed by a Ld. Bail Roster Judge, ASJ, Patiala House Courts, New Delhi dated 19.10.2022 wherein following observations were made: “39……. So hon’ble Supreme Court observed in explicit terms that only such property which is diverted or obtained directly or indirectly as a result of criminal activity relating to scheduled offence can be regarded as ‘proceeds of crime’. The possession of unaccounted property acquired by legal means may be actionable for tax violations, yet will not be regarded as ‘proceeds of crime’ unless it constitutes an offence which is included in the Schedule of PML Act. In order to be “proceeds of crime”, the property must be derived or obtained directed or indirectly as a result of criminal activity relating to schedules offence. In the facts of present case also mere fact that the investigating agency could locate certain transactions in the account of M/s Sagar Diamonds Ltd. and M/s RHC Global Exports Pvt. Ltd., is not itself sufficient to draw an assumption that the said property/funds forms part of the ‘proceeds of crime’. 40. This Court would refrain from making much observation on the merits of the matter at this stage as the investigation is still going on but for deciding the question of bail purpose. Taking the facts and evidence on the face of it, I am of the view that I the peculiar facts of the case when accused/applicant as per allegations is related to fourth layer entity and there being no evidence of its connection with first or second layer entities, that fact by itself to my mind makes out the case of satisfying the requirement of Section 45 of PML Act for the purpose of bail. 26. These observations pertain to an accused who was the authorized signatory as well as common director in, both, the third and Vaibhav Dipak Shah Vs. ED Page 14 of 18 -- 14 of 18 -- fourth layer companies and the key accused even as per the department. The aforesaid observations equally pertain to M/s Sagar Diamonds Ltd. and judicial discipline requires that these observations are respected by this Court while holding coordinate jurisdiction. In the reply filed by the department and during oral arguments, the department could not convince as to how these observations did not apply to the case of the applicant. 27. I had put it to the department whether the said order dated 19.10.2022 had been challenged and stayed. The department fairly stated that a challenged was made to the order dated 19.10.2022, immediately, before the Hon’ble High Court of Delhi. It was fairly conceded that the Delhi High Court refused to pass any ex-parte order of stay in the said matter and only two additional conditions were imposed by the High Court while issuing notice and the conditions pertained to a restriction on the movement of the accused Rahil H. Chovatia out of NCR region and about his whereabouts. 28. I may note here that the judgment of the Kerala High Court in Shafi S.M (supra) has also been considered by me and the same does not lay any proposition of law that where a person is out of India, he cannot be admitted to anticipatory bail at all. In fact the judgment records that such relief was not available to a person who does not intend to visit India soon or who had not made out any definite case that he will come on a particular day. The Court had noted that a blanket order could not be passed to enable a person to weild the order whenever he finds pleasure to visit India and thereafter Vaibhav Dipak Shah Vs. ED Page 15 of 18 -- 15 of 18 -- leave at his pleasure. 29. The entire crux of the matter is that the prima facie finding of the Court having coordinate jurisdiction as recorded in order dated 19.10.2022, in the facts and circumstances of the present case, binds this Court to the extent the observations are applicable to the third layer company i.e. M/s Sagar Diamonds (whose business activities I am concerned with while passing this order) and consequently to the applicant herein. 30. Further, the fact that accused has undertaken to deposit Rs. 7.10 Crore on being asked by the Court, adequately secures the alleged proceeds of crime and may also act as a security for ensuring the presence of the accused during investigation. Merely because NBWs have been issued, jurisdiction to grant bail is not taken away, more so when the correspondence reveals that the accused had his pregnant wife in Dubai and she required medical support. It is not the case of the department that the accused has no business transactions/interest in Dubai and his presence in Dubai can only be attributable to his running away from the country. 31. It may be pertinent to also note here that over the years, we have noticed that accused persons involved in large scale financial bunglings, flee from the country, and do not join investigation at all and years are spent only trying to secure their presence in India by way of extradition. On the other hand, their presence for the purpose of investigation and trial can be ensured if the provision for bail is liberally applied while imposing adequate restrictions securing the Vaibhav Dipak Shah Vs. ED Page 16 of 18 -- 16 of 18 -- interest of both sides. Often, accused also claim persecution instead of prosecution to justify their absence. 32. In the present case, considering the grounds of parity arising out of observations made in order dated 19.10.2022 as also the fact that accused has shown willingness to deposit the alleged proceeds of crime amounting to Rs. 7.10 Crore as also that he is willing to travel to India on 28.11.2022 to join investigation and cooperate in the same as also the fact that he has no established link with the establishment of first and second layer companies as also the fact that Sagar Diamonds has admittedly been in business at least since the year 2015 (as was submitted during arguments), whereas the first and second layer companies were formulated in the year 2020/2021, accused is admitted to anticipatory bail and it is directed that in the event of his arrest he be released on bail on furnishing bail bond and surety bond in the sum of Rs.25,00,000/- each. The bail shall also be subject to the following conditions: (i) The accused shall deposit the sum of Rs. 7.10 Crores within 07 days of passing of this order, as undertaken by his counsel. (ii) He will return to India on 28.11.2022 or in no case beyond end of November 2022 and join investigation and cooperate in the same. (iii) The applicant/accused shall not tamper with any evidence or try to influence any of the witnesses. (iv) He shall not leave the country without the Vaibhav Dipak Shah Vs. ED Page 17 of 18 -- 17 of 18 -- permission of this Court. (v) While in India, he shall make his location available to the Investigating Officer and shall not leave New Delhi without prior intimation to the investigating officer as also to the prejudice of the investigation or the requirement of his presence by the IO on any given day. 33. Needless to say that in case the accused commits breach of any of the condition or fails to cooperate in investigation, the department shall be at liberty to approach the Court seeking cancellation of bail. 34. Bail application is disposed off in terms thereof. 35. Order dasti. (Harjyot Singh Bhalla) Bail Roster Judge/ASJ-04/NDD/PHC/ND 15.11.2022 Vaibhav Dipak Shah Vs. ED Page 18 of 18 -- 18 of 18 --
