Shivangi Prakash-
Published on August 06, 2021 1:
A Delhi Court has sent Ambience Mall owner Raj Singh Gehlot to Enforcement Directorate custody for two days in a bank fraud case, observing that investigating money laundering is “An intricate exercise of skills and patience”.
Additional Sessions Judge Dharmendra Rana granted ED, Gehlot’s custody, observing that “Voluminous data is still required to be analyzed and numerous statements of witnesses recorded under section 50 of Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (PMLA) are required to be confronted with the accused.”
“Investigation of an offence under PMLA in itself is an intricate exercise of skills and patience. The very nature of offence requires a sustained intensive analysis of the copious material collected during the investigation,”, noted Additional Sessions, Judge Dharmender Rana
Importantly, the Court also emphasized that Investigation under PMLA, for obvious reasons, is a time-consuming process and thus the investigating agency in a PMLA case deserves a little more time in comparison to the time required in investigating an ordinary crime.
It was thus prayed that ED remand of accused Raj Singh Gehlot may be extended for a further period of seven days.
On the other hand, Senior Advocate Vikas Pahwa opposed his further remand by submitting that unless there is a very strong and exceptional circumstance for extension of ED remand, the ED remand cannot be extended.
It is further submitted that extension of ED remand any further in the instant matter shall be violative of Articles 20 and 21 of the Constitution of India.
Having perused the material produced by the investigating officer, the Court opined that there were grounds for further extension of ED remand.
“However, ED is not divested of its onerous responsibility to expeditiously conclude the investigation,” the Court concluded.
Click here to Read/Download the Order
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