Mumbai: Rejecting actor and businessman Sachiin Joshi’s plea to fly to Switzerland to meet his daughter and resolve certain issues with her boarding school there, a special PMLA court on Monday said that when the Enforcement Directorate (ED) expresses fears of a flight risk, it cannot be overlooked and ignored. “Once the applicant (Joshi) leaves India and if he does not return, the purpose of the trial will frustrate,” special judge MG Deshpande said.

Accused in a money laundering case, Joshi was granted bail in March. In May, the same court rejected Joshi’s plea to travel abroad for six months, observing that granting of such permission will amount to inviting a flight risk.

The court had then noted that during his incarceration Joshi had made various attempts to stay out of jail by citing ill-health.

In Monday’s order, the special judge referred to the email sent by the school and said that the matter could be resolved by making the requisite deposit in its account.

“It has to be noted that the applicant was behind bars and in hospital for a long period. Certainly, he must have made proper arrangements for the education of his daughter,” the judge said.

The judge also said that he could consult the school authorities through video conference. “It cannot be ignored that many times the accused had registered his appearance through a mobile when he was on a stretcher in the hospital. He can similarly resolve this difficulty through a video conference. Regarding emotional support, the applicant can invite his daughter to India for some days by requesting the school management,” the judge said.

Joshi was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate on February 14, 2021. The ED had submitted its chargesheet against Joshi, Omkar Group promoters Babulal Varma, Kamal Kishor Gupta and 14 firms associated with them.