HC reserves order on LIC agent’s bail plea

New Delhi, February 15

The Delhi High Court today reserved its verdict on a plea filed by an LIC agent seeking bail in a money laundering case involving Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh and others.

Justice Vipin Sanghi kept his decision pending after the counsel for accused Anand Chauhan, who has been in judicial custody since his arrest in July last year, concluded his submissions.

During the hearing on his bail plea earlier, th eED had claimed that there was ample evidence against him and there was serious apprehension that he could tamper with evidence if released on bail.

The accused had approached the high court challenging the trial court’s order of August 20 last year dismissing his bail plea, saying there was “more than sufficient material” to show his involvement in the alleged offence.

The ED has alleged that Virbhadra Singh had “invested huge amount in purchasing LIC policies in his own name and his family members through Chauhan.” Chauhan was arrested from Chandigarh on July 9, 2016, under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act after the ED alleged that he was not cooperating with the probe.

He has sought bail on the ground that the case against him was documentary in nature and there was no need to keep him in custody. He had claimed of having joined and cooperated with the agency in the ongoing probe. — PTI