New Delhi: The Delhi High Court has permitted former BharatPe Managing Director and Shark Tank fame Ashneer Grover, along with his wife Madhuri Jain Grover, to travel to the United States, but separately. Grover is authorized to travel from May 26 to June 12, while his wife has been granted permission to travel from June 15 onwards to ensure the availability of at least one of the duo in the country.
Also Read - Delhi HC permits Ashneer Grover and wife to travel abroad separately amidst ongoing EOW probe
The Court also asked the Delhi Police for suggestions on conditions to be imposed on them alongside granting the permissions. Subsequently, the following conditions were mandated:
Mortgage and Surety Bond: One party must remain in India as a mortgage, and a surety bond equivalent to 80 crores in assets must be submitted.
Detailed Itinerary and Cooperation: The couple must provide a complete itinerary of their stay, including hotel details, travel plans, and phone numbers, and they must fully cooperate with the ongoing investigation.
Cooperation with Investigation: The party remaining in India must cooperate with the investigation.
No Third-Party Rights on RIPL Shares: No third-party rights should be created on the RIPL shares.
Submission of UAE Golden Visa: Their UAE Golden Visa must be submitted back to the authorities.
The couple had moved the Delhi High Court challenging a Look Out Circular (LOC) issued against them by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW), after being stopped from flying out of the country in November 2023 on the basis of the LOC.
Among other grounds, the Delhi Police had opposed their plea citing concerns regarding foreign asset disposal by Ashneer Grover. He will dissipate the assets lying abroad. They are giving evasive replies...Heavens are not going to fall if they dont go there," the Police had said.
The Police also raised concerns that the couple holds a golden visa for the UAE and that Madhuri Jain Grover is not cooperating with the investigating authorities. Investigation is still on. We are calling the wife, and she is not cooperating. She is claiming privilege and privacy and trying to stall the probe. We will complete the investigation in two months," they argued.
Delhi Police's EOW is investigating an alleged fraud of 81 crores by Grover and his wife, based on a complaint by BharatPe (of which Ashneer was a co-founder and his wife was Head of Operations). The EOW lodged an FIR against them in May 2023.