I-PAC Co-founder Vinesh Chandel Granted Bail in ED Money Laundering Case

NEW DELHI, APRIL 30, (VoM News) Vinesh Chandel, co-founder and director of Indian Political Action Committee (I-PAC), has been granted bail more than two weeks after his arrest in a money-laundering case.

The Enforcement Directorate did not oppose his bail plea in the Patiala House Court.

Chandel was arrested on April 13 under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act in connection with an alleged coal pilferage case in West Bengal. His residence in Delhi had earlier been searched on April 2 as part of the probe.

The case originates from a 2020 FIR registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation, which alleged large-scale coal theft from mines operated by Eastern Coalfields Ltd in the Kunustoria and Kajora areas near Asansol.

According to the ED, funds linked to the alleged coal-smuggling network were routed through hawala channels and transferred to Indian PAC Consulting Pvt Ltd, the company behind I-PAC. Investigators claim that a portion of payments was made through formal banking routes, while the rest was handled in cash or through non-banking methods.

The agency has alleged that the firm generated fake invoices to legitimise these funds and convert unaccounted money into accounted income. It also accused Chandel of providing misleading statements during questioning and denying the existence of cash transactions.

Further, the ED has claimed that Chandel and other company officials attempted to destroy evidence by deleting emails and financial records from employee accounts.

Sources indicate that Chandel may turn approver in the case. The investigation is ongoing.

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