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New Delhi -: Bollywood producer Karim Morani, an accused in the 2G scam-related money laundering case, has been allowed by a Delhi court to go abroad for promoting the upcoming Shahrukh Khan-starrer movie ‘Happy New Year’.
Special CBI Judge O P Saini allowed the application filed by Morani in which he said he has been engaged as the creative producer/associate producer for the film which is set to hit the theatres worldwide on ‘Diwali’ and his presence was required during the promotional tour abroad.
Enforcement Directorate (ED) had opposed Morani’s plea saying his exact role in promotion of the movie was not clear and he could misuse the liberty.
The agency had said Morani’s plea should be dismissed and if the court was permitting it, stringent conditions be imposed on the accused.
The court, after hearing the submissions, allowed his plea and permitted him to travel to Dubai, the UK and the Netherland from September 22 to October 8 this year.
“The say of the prosecution is that purpose of accused’s travel abroad is not clear and that he may misuse his liberty. However, I find that some documents are attached with the application indicating the requirement of the presence of accused (Morani) abroad during the aforesaid period,” the judge said.
“Considering the fact that the accused submits that it is a question of his livelihood and his presence is necessary in foreign countries for promotion of the film and that he was permitted to travel abroad in trial of the scheduled offences also, I am inclined to allow the application, albeit taking note of the concern of the prosecution,” the judge said.
The court also imposed various conditions on Morani, including that he shall furnish two additional sureties of Rs 20 lakh each and would not try to contact any witnesses.
Morani, along with former Telecom Minister A Raja, DMK MP Kanimozhi, DMK supremo M Karunanidhi’s wife Dayalu Ammal and others, was chargesheeted by ED in the money laundering case.
The special court had on September 18 permitted Swan Telecom promoter Shahid Usman Balwa, co-accused in the case, to go to London for getting his son admitted to the Cambridge University.
ED had filed a charge sheet against 19 accused, including nine firms, in the case. All the accused were earlier granted bail by the court.
Besides these accused, Swan Telecom promoter Vinod Goenka, Directors of Kusegaon Fruits and Vegetables Pvt Ltd Asif Balwa and Rajiv Agarwal, Kalaignar TV MD Sharad Kumar and P Amirtham are accused in the case.
Swan Telecom Pvt Ltd, Kusegaon Realty Pvt Ltd (formerly known as Kusegaon Fruits and Vegetables Pvt Ltd), Cineyug Media and Entertainment Pvt Ltd (formerly known as Cineyug Films Pvt Ltd), Kalaignar TV Pvt Ltd, Dynamix Realty, Eversmile Construction Company Pvt Ltd, Conwood Constructions and Developers (P) Ltd, DB Realty Ltd and Nihar Constructions Pvt Ltd have also been named as accused in the case.
