Delhi court seeks ED’s reply on alleged conman Sherpuria’s bail plea in money laundering case

New Delhi, Sep 15 (SocialNews.XYZ) A Delhi court on Friday sought response of the Enforcement Directorate (ED), by September 21, on a bail application of alleged conman Sanjay Prakash Rai a.k.a Sherpuria in a money laundering case.

Arguing before Additional Sessions Judge Sachin Gupta, who issued notice to the ED, advocate Nitesh Rana, representing Rai, argued that the entire case was a "figment of imagination" of the central probe agency, and that there was no evidence against his client.

On August 2, the ED filed a charge sheet against the accused; hence, Rana argued that Rai was no longer required for the investigation.

Counsel told the court that the accused will abide by any condition imposed upon him if the bail was granted.

Earlier, the central agency had sought the accused's remand on the grounds of further probe regarding money received from Dalmia Family Office Trust as donation and money generated from the sale of property in Gujarat.

Appearing for ED, Special Public Prosecutor N.K. Matta had submitted that Sherpuria's custody is sought in order to record statements of five more persons and to verify details of property sold in Gujarat.

The probe agency had said that it would also examine and verify the transactions of the Chandni Chowk jeweller, who is alleged to have helped in the layering of cash transactions.

It was claimed before the court that the probe showed Rs 10 crore in cash had been laundered, which was initially pegged at Rs 6 crore. "He deposited the amount in a bank account through some people," Matta had said.

Sherpuria was first arrested by the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force on April 26 over allegations of collecting crores of rupees by faking access to the Prime Minister's Office and later by the central agency after interrogation in Lucknow jail.

Source: IANS