The counsel for the family of ex- IL&FS Financial Services head Ramesh Chandra Bawa’s wife Asha Kiran and daughter Akansha Monday moved NCLT seeking to defreeze their bank accounts as neither the SFIO report nor the charge-sheet name them in the case.
However, the counsel for the corporate affairs ministry, which want to extend the freeze on their accounts, argued that the petitioners are the beneficiaries of Rs 12 crore of funds from Bawa’s frozen banks accounts, as per the findings of the SFIO probe, which has also found that the duo had accessed the blocked-lockers of Bawa three-four times after the NCLT ordered their freezing last December and thus are in contempt of the tribunal.
“There is no mention of Asha Kiran and Akansha in the charge-sheet and thus keeping their accounts frozen cannot be justified,” their counsel argued.
He further said the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) has not charged Asha Kiran and Akansha yet and thus have no allegations against them.
“Except for transfer of money, there is no other allegations or charges against them,” he said, adding, “Asha has been operating the lockers even after the NCLT freeze as there the tribunal did not direct the Indian Banks Association on freezing the lockers.”
He also said his clients are ready to return the Rs 4.81 crore transferred to their accounts.
Hearing both the sides, NCLT reserved its order without mentioning the date for next hearing.
