LIC agent denied bail in Himachal CM’s money laundering case

New Delhi, April 10 (IANS) The Delhi High Court on Monday dismissed the bail plea of LIC agent Anand Chauhan in a money laundering case involving Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh and others.

Justice Vipin Sanghi denied the bail plea of Chauhan, who is in judicial custody since his arrest in July 2016.

Chauhan is accused of investing Virbhadra Singh’s “tainted” money of Rs 5 crore in LIC policies purchased in the Himachal Chief Minister’s name and those of his family members, including wife Pratibha Singh.

He had approached the Delhi High Court challenging the August 20 order of the trial court where it dismissed his bail plea.

Opposing Chauhan’s bail plea, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) had claimed in the high court that there was ample evidence against him and there was serious apprehension that he could tamper with evidence if released on bail.

Chauhan was arrested from Chandigarh on July 9, 2016, under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act after the ED alleged he was not cooperating in the probe.

Virbhadra Singh and his wife were on March 31 chargesheeted by the CBI in another case before a special court here in a disproportionate assets case after the high court refused to quash the FIR against them.