Soon after getting bail, Sonia Dhawan rejoins Paytm: Report

Update: Commenting on the development, a Paytm spokesperson said that no accused is joining back the company till the time the court matter is concluded.

Paytm data theft and extortion case in no less than watching a typical thriller series where a company's Vice President and her husband got arrested for blackmailing their boss for handsome money.

The case, later on, created a ruckus as two more person accused in the case came up with a different version of the story. Ultimately, all four accused were granted bail by high court although police investigating team claimed to have recorded all evidence against them.

Meanwhile, the lead investigating officer in the case was also arrested for taking bribes.

The five-month-long case has seen almost all twist and turns that could have imagined by people who were closely watching it. Now, the climax of the story may end with the prime accused in the case - Sonia Dhawan - rejoining the company.

Not only Dhawan but her husband Rupak Jain, who was also named in the FIR filed on October 22, 2018, is also believed to have rejoined the firm earlier in the week. Jain and Dhawan granted bail by the Allahabad High Court in February and March respectively.

According to an ET report, it is yet to be made clear whether Dhawan will join the company with the same responsibility. To recall, Paytm's boss Vijay Shekhar Sharma told media that the arrest was quite shocking for the company and Dhawan was a conduit of someone else's bigger plan.

Citing sources, another publication called IBTimes even claimed that Dhawan was seen inside the Paytm building in Noida along with Sharma on March 26. The  meeting was regarding her rejoining the company.

Both reports did not mention whether Sharma has withdrawn the case against accused - the only scenario that could make rejoining a sensible development.

According to Registrar of Companies, Dhawan owned 1,400 vested shares worth Rs 1.79 crore. in Paytm-owner One 97 Communications as in March 2017.

During her bail plea, Dhawan told the court that she wasn’t involved in any activity mentioned in FIR and was wrongly framed in the data theft and extortion case.

On the other hand, while granting bail, the High Court order clearly mentioned that the applicant will not tamper with the evidence during the trial; will not pressurise/intimidate the prosecution witness; will appear before the trial court on the date fixed and the applicant will not commit offence.

In case of breach of any of the above conditions, the court shall be at liberty to cancel Sonia Dhawan’s bail, outlined the order.

Paytm is yet to respond to the report. We'll have to wait and watch what the official statement is going to reveal.