PMLA case against Virbhadra: ED opposes bail of LIC agent

New Delhi, Aug 16 (PTI) The Enforcement Directorate (ED)today opposed in a special court the bail application of LICagent Anand Chauhan, arrested in a money laundering case alsoinvolving Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh,apprehending that he could tamper with the evidence. The agency made the submission before Additional SessionsJudge Vinod Kumar, who reserved the order on Chauhan’s bailplea for August 20. During the hearing, the agency argued, "there are ampleevidences against Chauhan. If he is released on bail, thereare serious apprehensions that he may tamper with evidences…If he is granted relief, he is likely to influence thewitnesses who are yet to be examined and those about whom weare yet to know." "The persons against whom the case was filed are stillholding very high posts. He (Chauhan) should not be grantedbail as it will hamper the further course of investigation,"the agency told the court. The counsel appearing for the accused, however, submittedthat "I (Chauhan) am not the fountain-head for generating themoney… Neither the money was mine, nor I was thebeneficiary. I was arrested on July 9 while no other accusedhas been arrested in the case yet. Isn’t it a dubious way ofthe probe agency?" The accused, who is currently in the judicial custody,had sought relief on the ground that the case against him wasdocumentary in nature and there was no need to keep him incustody. Chauhan was arrested from Chandigarh on July 9 under theprovisions of Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) as hewas allegedly not cooperating with investigating officer ofthe case. ED had earlier claimed in the court that during Chauhan’sinterrogation, it was revealed that as an LIC agent, he hadentered into a modus operandi to launder disproportionateassets by investing in LIC policies. (More) PTI UK SKVARC