Virbhadra PMLA case: Court asks ED to provide documents to accused

NEW DELHI: A special court today granted time till December 19 to Enforcement Directorate ( ED) for supplying certain documents to LIC agent Anand Chauhan, an accused chargesheeted in a money laundering case involving Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh.

Special Judge Vinod Kumar directed the probe agency to hand over the documents by the next date of hearing after the counsel appearing for ED submitted that legible copy from one bank was still awaited.

"Special Public Prosecutor submits that the legible copies of statements of bank accounts have been received and the same will be filed in the court and copy of same will be supplied to accused.

"However, it is submitted that legible copy from one bank is still awaited and accordingly, a short adjournment is sought by SPP for ED. I allow this request," the judge said and put up the matter for further hearing on December 19.

The court had on September 7 taken cognisance of the charge sheet filed against Chauhan, who is at present in judicial custody, while asking ED to provide him a copy of the final report and other documents.

The charge sheet was filed for offences under sections 3 (money-laundering) and 4 (punishment for the offence) of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act ( PMLA) Act.

Chauhan was arrested from Chandigarh on July 9 under the provisions of PMLA on the grounds that he was allegedly not cooperating with the probe.