Ajwani, others remanded to CBI custody till Oct 1

MUMBAI: A special court on Tuesday dismissed tainted central excise commissioner P K Ajwani''s anticipatory bail application and remanded him to CBI custody till October 1, 2004.
Ajwani, who is facing charges of corruption following a CBI raid on his house last week was produced by investigating officers from CBI before sessions judge U D Salvi on Tuesday.
During raids on Ajwani''s house and his friend''s residence, CBI claimed to have seized assets, including Rs 3.14 crore cash. The agency claimed that it was the biggest seizure ever from a government official.
Ajwani is seeking bail on medical grounds and has denied charges of corruption. His bail application states that he (Ajwani) is very honest and a man of integrity, who has been falsely implicated by certain people.
However, CBI''s special public prosecutor Ejaz Khan told the court that it was too early to believe Ajwani''s claims. "The CBI is investigating the case and if Ajwani is granted bail at this stage then there are strong chances that he will tamper the evidence. Likewise, the CBI is also in the process of tracing clues which could lead to Ajwani''s other hidden assets and some more corrupt officials," Khan said.
The court, which had earlier directed Ajwani to remain present in person took note of his medical report on Tuesday and remanded him to CBI custody till October 1.
A haggard looking Ajwani dressed in wrinkled clothes covered his face with a napkin from mediapersons outside the court premises.
In another development, sessions judge A R Joshi has remanded two other alleged co-accused, superintendent of excise department Devendra Chaturvedi and businessman Kumar Gandhi to CBI custody till October 1.
Advocate I A Bagaria, who is defending the two accused persons said his clients were not involved in the crime. "Till date there has been no offence registered under section 13 (ii) (e) of the Prevention of Corruption Act 1988 against Gandhi or Chaturvedi. They have been in police custody since September 23 for no fault of theirs," Bagaria said.
However, CBI''s Khan pointed out that Gandhi was staying at Shreepati Arcade, Nana Chowk in a flat just below a flat purchased Ajwani in the name of his mother-in-law. "The two accused persons have been instrumental in concealing Ajwani''s disproportionate assets," Khan said.
Bagaria said it was mere coincidence that Ajwani had bought a flat in the same building. "My client was not even aware that the flat belonged to Ajwani''s mother-in-law," he said.
The judge said that considering the magnitude of the crime and the amount recovered by the CBI, the accused need to be remanded to further CBI custody for interrogation till October 1.
According to CBI, Ajwani''s wife Uma asked Chaturvedi to find a place for the cash and valuables kept at their Lokhandwala complex flats. On Wednesday, Ajwani''s daughter Lehar, Chaturvedi and Gandhi went to Rendezvous and Green Villa buildings in Lokhandwala and shifted the Rs 2.8 crore to Shreepati Arcade building. Ajwani, is accused of demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 60 lakh from a garment manufacturer.