Delhi court grants bail to I-PAC director after ED no objection

E-PaperSubscribeSubscribeEnjoy unlimited accessSubscribe Now! Get features like A Delhi court on Thursday granted bail to political consultancy firm I-PAC director Vinesh Chandel in a money laundering case being investigated by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), after the federal agency did not oppose Chandel’s appeal, noting the cooperation extended by him during the probe. The counsel for the accused, senior advocate Vikas Pahwa, submitted that since ED had not opposed the bail plea. (Representative file photo)In a four-page order passed by additional sessions judge Amit Bansal of Patiala House Courts, the judge said that Chandel was being let out on bail on a personal bond of ₹2 lakhs and one surety of the like amount. During the proceedings, special public prosecutor Simon Benjamin told the court that without any prejudice to the rights and contentions of ED during the trial, the agency was not opposing Chandel’s bail, however, it requested the court to impose appropriate conditions upon the accused while he is released. The investigating officer of the case further told the court that Chandel provided “certain valuable leads and information relevant to the ongoing investigation”. The counsel for the accused, senior advocate Vikas Pahwa, submitted that since ED had not opposed the bail plea, the twin conditions of Section 45 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), which reverses the burden of proof on the accused, would not be applicable in the present case. Among multiple conditions imposed on Chandel, the court said that he shall join the investigation as and when required by the investigating officer and shall not leave the country without prior permission of the court. According to ED, the political consultancy firm was allegedly involved in laundering proceeds of crime amounting to crores of rupees, with around ₹50 crore identified so far during the probe. Chandel, who holds a 33% stake in the company, was arrested earlier in April, shortly before the phase 1 of the West Bengal assembly elections. The agency has alleged that I-PAC engaged in money laundering through a structured and layered system of financial transactions, including splitting receipts between formal banking channels and unaccounted cash components, with funds allegedly received from political parties and related entities. It further claimed that the unaccounted money was used for election-related expenses and to influence public perception during campaigns.