Delhi Court Grants Interim Relief to Raheja Developers' Chairman and MD in Money Laundering Case

In a significant legal development, a Delhi court has granted interim relief from arrest to Naveen M. Raheja and Nayan N. Raheja, leaders of Raheja Developers Limited, in a money laundering case. The court highlighted the serious implications of issuing non-bailable warrants and stressed the need for careful consideration in such matters. The Rahejas have expressed their willingness to cooperate with the investigation, and the court has scheduled the next hearing for September 3. This ruling underscores the importance of due process in legal proceedings.

By Narendra Chaudhary Aug 4, 2026, 20:49 IST

Interim Relief Granted in Money Laundering Case

A Delhi court has provided interim relief from arrest to Naveen M. Raheja, Chairman of Raheja Developers Limited, and his son Nayan N. Raheja, the Managing Director, in a money laundering case. The court emphasized that the issuance of a non-bailable warrant (NBW) can significantly impact the rights of the accused and should not be issued mechanically. This ruling was made by Additional Sessions Judge Sheetal Chaudhary while hearing a plea from the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

The ED had requested the court to issue indefinite non-bailable warrants against the father-son duo. In its order dated August 3, the court stated that the primary purpose of initiating any proceedings against an accused is to ensure their presence in court. The issuance of a non-bailable warrant has far-reaching consequences for the accused and affects their rights, thus it should be approached with careful consideration.

The court noted that all aspects must be duly considered, and processes should not be issued mechanically. The ED alleged that both accused failed to cooperate with the investigation and did not comply with summons issued in relation to the Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) filed in 2022. Senior advocate Vikas Pahwa, representing the accused, informed the court that both had appeared before the ED four times in 2025 to assist with the investigation and provided the requested documents.

Pahwa argued that although the ECIR was filed in 2022, the ED's request for a non-bailable warrant came nearly four years later despite their cooperation. The defense also asserted that neither accused is absconding nor evading legal processes, stating they are willing to participate in the investigation whenever summoned.

Additionally, anticipatory bail petitions and other applications are pending in the Delhi High Court. The ED opposed these claims, stating that after participating in the investigation in 2025, the accused failed to appear on four occasions and did not comply with summons issued in April 2026. The agency contended that filing an anticipatory bail petition does not absolve the obligation to participate in the investigation nor does it halt the agency's actions.

However, the court remarked that the debate on the ED's application is not yet concluded and reiterated that the main objective of any proceedings is to ensure the accused's presence. The court acknowledged that both accused have expressed their willingness to cooperate with the investigation. Therefore, it deemed it appropriate to grant them interim relief from arrest until the next hearing.

The court instructed Naveen and Nayan Raheja to cooperate fully with the investigation when called upon by the investigating officer. Considering Naveen Raheja's advanced age, the court mentioned that the ED might consider the Delhi High Court's decision regarding appearances via video conferencing, as cited by the defense. The next hearing in this matter has been scheduled for September 3.