Delhi Court Grants Bail to I-PAC Director Vinesh Chandel Day After Bengal Elections

A Delhi court on Thursday granted regular bail to Indian Political Action Committee (I-PAC) director Vinesh Chandel in a money laundering case, noting that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) did not oppose his plea.

The order was passed by Additional Sessions Judge Amit Bansal of the Patiala House Court. The court recorded that although the prosecution was given an opportunity, it chose not to contest the bail application, thereby making the stringent twin conditions under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) inapplicable in this instance. 

Chandel was arrested by the ED on April 13 in connection with a money laundering probe stemming from a Delhi Police FIR. He is alleged to be a founder and 33% shareholder of PAC Consulting Private Limited, which is under investigation. 

According to the ED, the probe has revealed multiple financial irregularities, including receipt of both accounted and unaccounted funds, unsecured loans without legitimate business backing, issuance of bogus invoices, and routing of funds through third parties. The agency has also alleged the use of hawala channels, both domestic and international, to move money. 

The ED claims that proceeds of crime worth around ₹50 crore have been identified so far in the case. 

The case had earlier drawn attention after ED raids at I-PAC’s office in Salt Lake, Kolkata, triggered a political confrontation involving West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.