ED files chargesheet against Jet Airways founder Naresh Goyal, others in bank fraud case

Naresh Goyal at the court. Pic/Atul Kamble

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) filed a chargesheet on Tuesday against Naresh Goyal and five other individuals in an alleged bank fraud case amounting to Rs 538 crore at Canara Bank, stated a report in PTI.

According to the report, Goyal, who was arrested by the federal probe agency on September 1 under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), currently is lodged at the Arthur Road jail in the city and is under judicial custody. The chargesheet against Goyal and his associates has been presented in a local court, where it is expected to be considered on Wednesday, according to a lawyer associated with the case, stated the report.

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This money laundering case stems from the initial FIR filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) against Jet Airways, Naresh Goyal, his wife Anita, and several former company executives of the now-grounded private airline, the PTI report added. The FIR was initiated based on a complaint from the bank, alleging the sanction of credit limits and loans to Jet Airways (India) Ltd, totalling Rs 848.86 crore, with an outstanding sum of Rs 538.62 crore.

Reportedly, during previous remand hearings, the investigating agency disclosed that the Jet Airways founder had moved funds from India to foreign countries by establishing trusts abroad. Their investigation uncovered the creation of multiple foreign trusts through which he acquired various immovable properties, with the funds originating from proceeds of crime siphoned from India, the report added.

Additionally, the ED revealed that Goyal had acquired high-value properties in Mumbai and formed an intricate network of Indian companies through which he procured numerous immovable assets. According to an audit report, the loans obtained by Jet Airways (India) Limited were utilized for the purchase of immovable assets like furniture, apparel, and jewellery. Furthermore, salaries for the Goyal family's residential staff and operational expenses for his daughter's production company were paid from JIL accounts.

Goyal permitted to have home-cooked food inside prison

Recently, Goyal was allowed to have home-cooked food inside prison by a special PMLA court in Mumbai. His plea for home-cooked meals was allowed by special judge MG Deshpande last week.

"Naresh Goyal is permitted to avail home-cooked food on a daily basis, as prayed, at his own risk and the risk of his family/relatives, until further order," the court had reportedly said.

With PTI inputs