Court issues arrest warrant against Raja

Akash Ghai

Tribune News Service

Mohali, August 8

The CBI court today issued an arrest warrant for Varinder Singh alias Raja, whose bail was recently cancelled by the apex court in a money laundering case registered by Enforcement Directorate (ED) against drug lord Jagdish Singh Bhola and others.

According to sources, Raja, who had to attend today’s court hearing, has moved an application to get exemption from personal appearance in court.

After the special public prosecutor of ED apprised the court of the apex court’s order in connection with the cancellation of Raja’s bail application, the court issued the arrest warrant. 

The court also issued notice to Delhi-based Kamaljit Singh, who has furnished Raja’s bail bond and surety bond, said the sources. 

The Punjab and Haryana High Court had granted bail to Raja in 2015 in the case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) registered by the ED in 2013.

Today, ED’s deputy director Niranjan Singh was to record his statement against the accused including Raja, Bittu Aulakh and Mani Gill in their presence in court.

Now, the court has slated August 19 as the next hearing date. Meanwhile, the ED has also moved two separate ‘Letters of Request’ under Section 57 of PMLA with request to UK and Canada authorities to give details of properties of the accused in the drug case including Bhola, Jagjit Chahal and Bittu Aulakh. 

The court has also set August 19 as the next date of hearing in this connection. 

The other accused — Swaran Singh Phillaur and his son — also moved applications for anticipatory bail on which hearing would take place on August 16.