New Delhi, 14 April (H.S.):

The Patiala House Court in Delhi on Tuesday sent I-PAC director Vinesh Chandel, who was arrested in a money-laundering case, to 10 days of custody with the Enforcement Directorate. Additional Sessions Judge Shefali Barnala Tandon passed the order early in the morning after hearing arguments that continued through the night.

The ED produced Chandel before the court late on April 13. After the hearing concluded on Tuesday morning, the court remanded him to ED custody for 10 days. According to the agency, Chandel holds a 33 per cent stake in PAC Consulting Private Limited, a company currently under investigation under anti-money laundering laws. The case began with an FIR filed earlier by the Delhi Police.

The probe originated after the ED raided the Kolkata residence of I-PAC director Pratik Jain. I-PAC handles the campaign work of the Trinamool Congress. The ED conducted the raid as part of its investigation into the alleged coal scam.

It also alleged that West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had reached the I-PAC office during the search with the intent of obstructing the investigation and had taken away certain documents and digital evidence. Banerjee later denied the allegations.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar