New Delhi, May 19: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has arrested Aam Aadmi Party leader Deepak Singla in connection with a bank fraud case involving ₹155 crores. He was presented in the Rouse Avenue Court in Delhi, where the court granted the ED a 24-hour transit remand for Singla. The hearing witnessed a heated exchange between the ED and Singla’s legal representatives.
Singla’s lawyer opposed the arrest, pointing out that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) filed an FIR in May 2018, while the ED registered an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) in March 2019. The lawyer argued that both investigations were nearly complete, suggesting that the arrest after several years reflects arbitrary actions by the agencies.
The defense attorney highlighted that the transactions in question date back to 2015 and 2016, questioning the emergence of new evidence justifying the arrest. He stated that if the material was already on record, the agency should have acted before filing charges.
Additionally, Singla’s lawyer mentioned that the case is already being heard in Panchkula Court, where witness statements are being recorded, making the arrest unnecessary. He accused the ED of misleading the court and claimed that the search was conducted unlawfully, failing to clarify why the arrest occurred after so many years.
On the other hand, the ED defended the arrest, asserting that it was essential to investigate the roles of other accused individuals, necessitating Singla’s custody. The agency claimed that unaccounted cash and several electronic devices were seized during the raids.
The ED informed the court that approximately ₹195 crores were embezzled in this case, with funds being transferred through shell companies. They also stated that money was transferred from the main accused’s account to Singla’s account. The ED emphasized that their investigation is ongoing, as noted in their charge sheet.
During the hearing, the court requested the ED to present the case diary. The ED responded that since this was a transit remand, the diary was not brought along but could be scanned and shown. The court expressed frustration, questioning how it could grant remand without reviewing the case diary. The court also asked the ED to provide any precedent allowing remand without a case diary.
Ultimately, the court sent Deepak Singla on a 24-hour transit remand, ordering his presentation in Panchkula Court by Tuesday at 2 PM.
Arpit Soni has had a passion for journalism since the beginning. Now he has turned this hobby into his profession. Arpit, who is a resident of Udaipur, enjoys editing and writing news related to journalism. He has worked as a Senior Content Producer in several important roles at Bhaskar, Patrika, Pratahkal, Punjab Kesari, and Times. Arpit completed his schooling in Udaipur and Jaipur. He has been working in the media industry for more than 10 years, and his journey is still continuing. ✍️📚
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