Hold attestant culpable too: PNB accused to CBI court

Mumbai: Businessman Nitin Shahi, an accused in the multi-crore PNB fraud, has moved an application in the CBI court seeking arraignment of a witness as an accused.

Shahi on Monday moved application before CBI judge Sardar Tamboli through his counsel Vijay Aggarwal. Advocate Aggarwal contended before the court that his client was made an accused in the case registered against Mehul Choksi, owner of Gitanjali Gems Ltd. and that Debajyoti Dutta was a witness in the case.

Advocate Aggarwal poin-ted out that Dutta, in his statement to the CBI, said that on request of accused Gokulnath Shetty, he was giving a share of the commission to Shetty. “In such a situation, Dutta could not have been made a witness as he has admitted his crime and so, he too should be removed from the list of witnesses and should be made an accused,” argued advocate Aggarwal.

Following the application, judge Tamboli issued notice to the CBI asking it to file its reply on July 24.

According to Shahi’s application, after perusal of the charge-sheet and statements of various witnesses, it transpired that various materials were also available on record against Dutta who had not been charge-sheeted as an accused but a witness in the present case.“It is clear that Dutta is an un-pardoned accomplice, as he has admitted to making payment of illegal gratification to Shetty,” read Shahi’s application.