2G scam: SC rejects plea of Essar promoter Ravi Ruia to go abroad

Supreme Court on Tuesday rejected a plea of Essar Group promoter Ravi Ruia, facing trial in a case arising out of the 2G scam probe, to go abroad for business purposes, saying it does not want "to take chances".

"We have allowed a person to go abroad but he never came back. He was no less big than you in monetary terms. We don't want to take chances now. We are now once bitten twice shy. We are not going to give liberty to anyone," a bench of Justices J S Khehar and Arun Mishra said without naming 

the person.

The apex court dismissed the petition of Ruia who wanted to visit United Kingdom, United States, Canada and UAE for business purposes. The bench said the final arguments in the case was over and judgement is awaited, and in such a scenario, it cannot allow Ruia to go abroad. Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing for Ruia, said he cannot be allowed to suffer "if some Mr X has cheated the court." To this, the bench said "it is because you are also similarly situated."  "He has also given the details of his assets and undertaking, but now he says I have sold my assets in India," the bench said.

Singhvi said that Ruia is an NRI and holds a residency visa of UAE and he has visited abroad 43 times for several reasons during the pendency of trial but never ever violated the bail conditions.