Ex-J&K minister taken into ED custody in money laundering case
Sources said Singh was picked up from a contractor's house in Chowadhi area.
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Lal Singh reached the ED office around 10 am Monday along with his supporters including his wife Kanta Andotra, who is a former MLA. Former minister and chairman of Dogra Swabhiman Sangathan Party Choudhary Lal Singh was on Tuesday night taken into custody by Enforcement Directorate officials in a case of money laundering here.
Though there has been no official word about it, Singh’s wife and ex-MLA Kanta Andotra along with her supporters assembled outside the ED’s office here and insisted on meeting her husband. “We had planned to go to Kathua after dinner, but they did not allow him to take meals,’’ she said.
Sources said Singh was picked up from a contractor’s house in Chowadhi area.
The move comes after his application for anticipatory bail was rejected by Special Judge, Anti-Corruption (CBI cases) Bala Jyoti earlier in the day. She said the against him were grave and serious and the ED must be given sufficient time to conduct an analysed and effective investigation.
The anti-corruption court has however extended the anticipatory bail of Singh’s wife Kanta Andotra and his daughter Dr Kranti Singh. While Kanta Andotra is chairperson of R B Educational Trust, Dr Kranti Singh is it’s trustee. The Trust, through Kanta Andotra in conspiracy with certain revenue officials, is alleged to have acquired 31.25 acre of land against the stipulated limit of standard 12.5 acre as mandated under the J&K Agrarian Reforms Act 1976.
While hearing his bail plea, the judge had said the investigation was still in its infancy and statements of more witnesses were yet to be recorded. She added that on the basis of evidence and other material on record collected by the investigating officer, case diaries revealed crucial revelations arose during investigations and that the probe was still underway. Given this information, the petitioner was no longer entitled to bail at this stage as it would hamper investigations.
Singh, whose premises were raided by the ED in Jammu and Kathua on October 17, had applied for anticipatory bail apprehending he would be arrested by the probe agency.
On November 1, the court had granted him interim protection till November 7, subject to two sufficient sureties of Rs one lakh each being furnished as well as other terms in the event of arrest.
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