High Court transfers CBI plea to enhance Moin Qureshi's security deposit for travelling abroad

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Wednesday transferred to another bench a plea by the CBI seeking a three-time increase in the security amount to be deposited by controversial meat exporter Moin Qureshi, accused in a cheating and corruption case, to travel to the UAE and Pakistan.

Justice Chandra Shekhar, who had earlier sought Qureshi's response on the CBI's plea, sent the case to another single judge, who is hearing a similar matter related to a co-accused.

The court was informed by the counsel appearing in the matter that a similar plea involving co-accused Pradeep Koneru is pending before Justice Najmi Waziri.

Koneru's issue relates to security amount to be deposited by him for travelling abroad.

The CBI's plea has been listed for hearing on Thursday before Justice Waziri.

The court had earlier issued notice to Qureshi seeking his reply on the plea of the probe agency which has requested the security deposited be increased from Rs 2 crore to Rs 6 crore and also contended the trial court ought to have mandated higher amount as was done by the high court for a co-accused in the case. Qureshi, on February 1, was allowed by a trial court to travel to the UAE from February 15-23 for attending the Gulf Food Festival and from March 6-20 to Pakistan to attend his niece's wedding.

The trial court had directed Qureshi to furnish an additional security of Rs 2 crore in the form of bank guarantee and warned that in case of violation of any of the conditions imposed, the amount would be forfeited.

He was also asked to surrender his passport within 24 hours of his arrival in the country. While the CBI sought enhancement of the amount, Qureshi moved an application in the trial court to reduce the security to Rs 50 lakh, the agency had earlier told the high court.

The ED and the CBI had opposed before the lower court Qureshi's plea to travel abroad on the apprehension that he may not return to face the trial.

The CBI had urged the trial court that stringent security conditions be put on him as was done in the case of the co-accused by the high court.