DHFL Fraud Case: Former DHFL Director Dheeraj Wadhawan Withdraws Bail Plea in Delhi High Court
On Friday, former Dewan Housing Finance Limited (DHFL) director Dheeraj Wadhawan withdrew his bail plea from the Delhi High Court. Wadhawan had sought bail after his arrest in the DHFL bank loan fraud case, citing medical grounds. The hearing for his bail on medical grounds is scheduled for Saturday.
Justice Jyoti Singh allowed Wadhawan’s counsel to withdraw the bail application. On May 11, the High Court had issued a notice to the CBI regarding Wadhawan’s plea for bail on medical grounds, as he is an accused in a CBI case involving the DHFL multi-crore bank loan fraud.
Wadhawan had appealed to the High Court after a trial court denied him bail on medical grounds, stating that the application was premature. Currently under treatment at his Mumbai home following spinal surgery, he had been discharged from the hospital.
Special Judge AK Sarpal of the Rouse Avenue court had dismissed his bail application on May 10 due to issues of maintainability. The court directed the CBI to arrest Wadhawan after May 11 and present him before the CBI court, in accordance with a Supreme Court directive from January 24.
The Rouse Avenue court also stated that Wadhawan could file a new bail application once he is in custody. His request for interim or regular bail will be considered at that time.
Previously, the Bombay High Court had granted Wadhawan medical bail until May 11. Senior advocates Amit Desai and N. Hariharan represented him, arguing that Wadhawan was receiving medical treatment at home based on doctors’ advice and that the trial court’s insistence on his physical presence was unnecessary.
Justice Jyoti Singh emphasized that Wadhawan should surrender and then apply for bail. The High Court reviewed medical records from Mumbai’s Leelawati Hospital, while the CBI’s counsel, Anupam Sharma, opposed the bail request, pointing out inconsistencies and questioning the jurisdiction.
The Supreme Court had previously overturned a Delhi High Court order that granted statutory bail to the Wadhawan brothers in the multi-crore bank loan fraud case. On January 24, the apex court ruled that the Wadhawans were not entitled to default bail as the chargesheet was filed on time and cognizance was taken. The court directed the trial court to reconsider their regular bail applications.
The CBI filed the chargesheet on the 88th day after the FIR registration, which initially led to the trial court granting default bail, a decision upheld by the Delhi High Court. However, the Supreme Court found this incorrect, noting that the investigation’s status on other accused did not affect the Wadhawans’ bail eligibility. The FIR originated from a Union Bank of India complaint.
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