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Delhi Court Grants Bail to Chinese National in Vivo India  Money Laundering Case In a significant development in the Vivo India money laundering case, Delhi’s Patiala House Court on November 11 granted regular bail to Guangwen alias Andrew , a Chinese national and administrative manager at Vivo India, who was previously detained under charges of money laundering related to alleged proceeds of crime worth ₹20,000 crores . Guangwen had been in judicial custody since October 2023 and was released on bail under specific terms and conditions. Court’s Decision and Reasoning for Bail Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) Kiran Gupta presided over the bail application, assessing the overall circumstances, including the period of custody, prior conduct, and existing evidence against Andrew. The court emphasized that although Andrew was employed at Vivo India, no substantial personal financial gain was reported in his accounts, apart from his legitimate salary. In granting bail, the court noted t...

AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan Challenges Arrest: Claims Unprecedented Assault on Fundamental Rights Amanatullah Khan , a prominent Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)  MLA from Okhla , has approached the Delhi High Court , challenging his recent arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) . In his petition, Khan argues that his arrest not only violates his fundamental rights  but also represents a misuse of legal powers for political motives. He terms his arrest as an “unprecedented assault” on the basic rights enshrined in the Indian Constitution . Allegations and Arrest Khan was arrested in connection with a money laundering case  related to alleged irregularities during his tenure as the Chairperson of the Delhi Waqf Board . The case also involves the acquisition of a Rs 36 crore property in Okhla. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has been investigating Khan's financial dealings as part of its broader scrutiny into alleged financial mismanagement and disproportionate assets during hi...

Supreme Court Dismisses Abhishek Banerjee and Rujira Banerjee’s Appeals Against ED Summons Under PMLA In a recent ruling, the Supreme Court of India dismissed the appeals filed by Abhishek Banerjee and Rujira Banerjee challenging the summons issued to them by the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) under Section 50 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (PMLA). The appellants had sought relief from the ED's summons to appear in New Delhi, arguing for a venue closer to their hometown, Kolkata, and questioned the legal grounds for their summons under the PMLA. Background of the Case The case originated with an FIR registered by the CBI regarding illegal coal mining activities in the leasehold areas of Eastern Coalfields Limited (ECL). The investigation revealed significant instances of money laundering involving illegal coal extraction and transportation, amounting to approximately Rs. 1300 crore. This led to the ED's involvement, which resulted in the issuance of summons to...

AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan Detained by ED in  Waqf Board Money Laundering Case The Enforcement Directorate (ED) detained Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Amanatullah Khan on Monday. The investigative agency conducted a raid at his residence in connection with a money laundering case linked to the Delhi Waqf Board, where Khan serves as Chairman.  The Allegations: Misuse of Waqf Properties The case revolves around alleged irregularities in Waqf properties, including illegal leasing and appointments. The ED claims that Khan, along with other accused, misappropriated funds and violated rules during his tenure. The agency has already filed a charge sheet against four accused persons and one firm, alleging that Rs 100 crore worth of Waqf properties were leased illegally. Raid and Detention The ED arrived at Amanatullah Khan’s residence early Monday morning, executing a search warrant. Despite his protests and claims of innocence, Khan was detained and taken into custody. Khan's cousin, Minna...

ED Arrests Sanjay Badaya in Connection with  Jal Jeevan Mission Scam in Rajasthan The Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested Sanjay Badaya on July 16 in connection with the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) scam in Rajasthan. Badaya, accused of playing a middleman in the scam, was taken into custody on Tuesday evening and later questioned at the ED's office in Jaipur. Ongoing Investigation and Previous Arrests Badaya's arrest marks the latest development in the ED's ongoing investigation into the JJM scam. So far, the ED has arrested three individuals in connection with the case. On June 19, Mahesh Mittal, a contractor, was apprehended as the third accused in the money laundering probe linked to the implementation of the Centre's Jal Jeevan Mission scheme in Rajasthan. The ED's Jaipur Zonal office arrested Mittal under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002. Details of the Scam According to the ED, Mahesh Mittal and others were involved in bribi...

Delhi HC Denies Bail to Two Accused in Delhi  Waqf Board Money Laundering Case The Delhi High Court has dismissed the bail applications of Zeeshan Haider and Daud Nasir, both accused in the Rs 36 crore property case related to the Delhi Waqf Board money laundering case. The court found sufficient evidence to deny bail under Section 45 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). Key Details of the Case Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma, while dismissing the bail applications, noted that the cash transactions involved in the property deals could be proceeds of crime generated by Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Amanatullah Khan. The properties in question were reportedly purchased for approximately Rs 36 crores, with Rs 27 crores paid in cash. The court emphasized that the evidence presented, including bank statements and sale agreements, corroborated these findings. The court highlighted that the applicants were part of a criminal conspiracy to invest ill-gotten money in immovable propert...

Land for Job PMLA Case: Delhi HC Grants Interim Bail to  Amit Katyal on Medical Grounds In a significant development, the Delhi High Court granted six weeks of interim bail to businessman Amit Katyal on medical grounds on Wednesday. Katyal is a co-accused in the high-profile Land for Job money laundering case, which also involves prominent figures like Rabri Devi and other accused individuals. Overview of the Case The Land for Job case is a major money laundering investigation in which several high-profile individuals, including Rabri Devi, have been charge-sheeted. The case revolves around allegations of providing jobs in exchange for land, a scheme purportedly involving significant sums of money. Amit Katyal's Bail Plea Amit Katyal had previously been on interim bail for 84 days on medical grounds. His recent plea for interim bail was similarly based on his medical condition. The vacation bench of Justice Dharmesh Sharma granted the interim bail for a period of six weeks, taking ...

Delhi Excise Policy PMLA Case: Rs 100 Crore Bribe  Allegation and Bail Plea The controversy surrounding the Delhi Excise Policy continues to deepen as the Enforcement Directorate (ED) opposes the bail plea of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. The ED has alleged a demand for a Rs 100 crore bribe, asserting the involvement of Kejriwal in money laundering activities. Bribe Demand and Money Laundering:    The ED has established that a significant amount of money, totaling Rs 100 crore, was demanded as a bribe. This money, according to the ED, was funneled through hawala transactions, with Chanpreet Singh identified as the individual who facilitated these transactions. The ED claims that a substantial amount of this money was given to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in cash and was used to fund a luxurious 7-star hotel stay for Kejriwal. Prosecution's Standpoint: Additional Solicitor General (ASG) S.V. Raju, representing the ED, argued that the Central Bureau of Investigation (C...

Supreme Court to Decide on Arvind Kejriwal's Interim Bail in Excise Policy Case Today The Supreme Court is set to deliver its verdict today on the interim bail petition filed by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in connection with the money laundering case lodged against him by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) related to the Delhi excise policy case. Legal Proceedings A bench headed by Justice Sanjiv Khanna informed the ED counsel, Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, that the court may issue an order regarding interim relief for Kejriwal on Friday. Kejriwal was arrested by the ED on March 21 under a money laundering probe linked to alleged irregularities in the Delhi excise policy for 2021-22. Previous Developments During previous hearings, the bench hinted at granting interim bail to Kejriwal to enable his participation in campaigning for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. However, it stipulated that if interim bail were granted, Kejriwal would not be permitted to perform any ...

Delhi Excise Policy Case: ED Opposes Arvind Kejriwal's Plea Against Arrest, Cites Evidence Enforcement Directorate's Affidavit: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has filed an affidavit opposing Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's plea against his arrest. Alleging non-cooperation, the agency stated that Kejriwal avoided interrogation despite multiple summons, further exacerbating the necessity of his arrest. The ED underscored instances where Kejriwal allegedly failed to appear before the investigating officer despite being summoned nine times. Kejriwal's Conduct and Evidence: In its affidavit, the ED contends that Kejriwal's conduct significantly contributed to the grounds for his arrest, alongside the material evidence gathered during the investigation. Additionally, the agency highlighted instances where crucial evidence, including data from approximately 170 mobile phones, was allegedly destroyed by individuals involved in the scam. Recovery of Key Evidence: De...

Delhi Court Extends Judicial Custody of BRS Leader K Kavitha in Excise Policy Money Laundering Case Introduction: The Rouse Avenue Court in Delhi has prolonged the judicial custody of Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) MLC K Kavitha until April 23, 2024, in connection with the excise policy money laundering case. Extension of Judicial Custody: Special Judge Kaveri Baweja granted the Enforcement Directorate's request for a 14-day extension of K Kavitha's judicial custody, citing concerns of witness tampering and evidence tampering. Advocate Nitesh Rana, representing K Kavitha, opposed the plea, asserting that no new grounds were presented. Court Proceedings: The court declined K Kavitha's request to address the court orally, permitting only written submissions. Advocates Zoheb Hossain, Naveen Kumar Matta, and Simon Benjamin represented the Enforcement Directorate, while Advocates Nitesh Rana, Deepak Rana, and Mohit Rao appeared for K Kavitha. Recent Developments: Earlier, the cour...

Legal Proceedings Initiated Against Former Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren Cognizance Taken by PMLA Court A Special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court in Ranchi has taken cognizance of a prosecution complaint filed by the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) against Hemant Soren, the former Chief Minister of Jharkhand and leader of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM). The complaint, comprising 5,500 pages, pertains to a money laundering case related to a land 'scam'. The central probe agency has also attached 8.5 acres of land in connection with the case. Detention and Extended Custody Hemant Soren, who was arrested on January 31, is currently detained at the Birsa Munda Central Jail in Hotwar, Ranchi. His judicial custody was extended till April 4 by the PMLA court on March 21. Additionally, on February 29, the Jharkhand High Court dismissed a petition filed by Soren seeking permission to attend the budget session of the state assembly. Allegations by the Enforcement Directorat...