Mumbai's Economic Offences Wing (EOW) today confirmed that Tarak Bajpai, Chief Operating Officer of Speak Asia, has disappeared. Bajpai has not been seen or heard from since his release on regular bail in October, despite court orders requiring weekly reporting and the furnishing of personal sureties.

Bajpai had been discharged from a hospital in October, after which he sought anticipatory bail to prevent re-arrest and questioning. A judge denied this request. The court instead granted him regular bail, with specific conditions. He was ordered to furnish personal sureties from Mumbai, Thane, and Panvel within eight weeks. Bajpai also had to report to the investigating officer every week.

Shortly after Bajpai secured bail, the EOW stated he had gone into hiding. Ashok Bahirwani, AISPA Secretary, who himself is sought by the EOW, claimed Bajpai was in Mumbai and actively fighting. His daughter, Anju Agarwal, echoed this, stating Bajpai was "under the gaze of the EOW" and "nobody is running away."

These claims contradict the EOW's current findings. More than eight weeks have passed since Bajpai received bail. The EOW has now concluded Bajpai will not surface. They report he has indeed disappeared, as they previously suspected.

The Times of India published an EOW statement. In it, the EOW claims Bajpai "was avoiding cooperating with the police, and neither appeared before the investigators nor did he furnish the personal surety."

Bajpai failed to meet his bail conditions. As a result, the EOW has now "approached the court for the cancellation of (Bajpai's) bail."

If the court cancels his bail, Bajpai would become a certified fugitive from the law. This would place him in the same category as Speak Asia's CEOs, Manoj Kumar and Harendar Kaur.

Bajpai's disappearance may have been aided by Speak Asia and its lawyers, Phoenix Legal. An arrest and interrogation would likely be detrimental to Speak Asia's ongoing legal efforts to legalize ponzi schemes in India.

Bajpai previously used medical excuses to avoid interrogation. With that tactic now unavailable, it appears Speak Asia and Bajpai are willing to ignore court-mandated bail conditions to keep him from custody. This stands in stark contrast to Speak Asia's official company statement released on December 4th, which asserted the company "is totally committed to cooperating with the concerned authorities and therefore has not initiated any action that may be deemed as obstruction."