I-PAC director Vinesh Chandel gets bail in money laundering case

New Delhi: A Delhi court on Thursday granted bail to I-PAC co-founder and director Vinesh Chandel in a money laundering case linked to an alleged coal scam in West Bengal, noting that ED did not contest the bail plea.

Additional Sessions Judge Amit Bansal noted the Enforcement Directorate's (ED's) submissions that Chandel, during his 10 days of custodial interrogation, had been cooperative and "provided certain useful leads and information relevant for the ongoing investigation."

Judge Bansal noted that the agency's prosecutor, despite being given an opportunity, did not oppose the bail plea and so the twin conditions of Section 45 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act would not be applicable in this case.



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The twin conditions in Section 45 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) prescribe that the prosecutor must be given an opportunity to oppose the bail plea and the court must satisfy itself that there were reasonable grounds for believing that the accused was not guilty of the offence and not liable to commit any offence on bail.

"In view of the above said discussion, statement of investigating officer (IO) of the case, as the ED is not opposing the present bail application of the applicant/accused and without commenting on the merits of the case, the applicant/accused Vinesh Kumar Chandel is admitted to bail on his furnishing a personal bond of Rs 2 lakh with one sound surety of the like amount...," the judge said.

The court also imposed other conditions for bail, including Chandel not leaving India, providing his residential address, always keeping his mobile phone in switched-on mode, and regularly appearing for trial.

"The applicant/accused shall not make any inducement, threat or promise to any witness or person acquainted with the facts of the present case and shall not try to tamper with any evidence; the applicant/accused shall not misuse the liberty of bail in any manner and shall not flee from justice," the court said.

Earlier on April 14, the court had allowed the ED to quiz Chandel in its custody for 10 days, saying there are reasons to believe that he was actively involved in processes and activities connected with the generation, diversion and possession of proceeds of crime worth several crores.

The ED arrested Chandel on April 13 after questioning.

Chandel was sent to 14 days' judicial custody on April 28.

Earlier on Tuesday, a court had rejected his interim bail plea on the humanitarian ground of the deteriorating medical condition of his mother, saying it did not meet the threshold of exceptional humanitarian grounds.