Delhi HC issues notice on ED's plea against interim bail to accused Ved Pal Singh Tanwar

He was granted 56 days interim bail on medical grounds on August 16 by Saket District Court.

Justice Neena Bansal Krishna issued notice on the plea of ED and listed the matter for hearing in September.

Haryana Mining Businessman Ved Pal Tanwar was arrested by the ED in a money laundering case in May.

The accused had filed for interim bail on the medical grounds to undergo the surgery of umbilical hernia and post-surgery care and treatment.

"Considering the report of the jail authorities regarding the status of the health condition of the accused/applicant alongwith the medical documents of the treatment so far provided to the applicant, the court is of the view that the accused is entitled to be admitted on interim bail on medical ground for eight weeks i.e. 56 days from the date of his release," Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) Ravindra Kumar Pandey ordered on August 16.

He has been granted interim bail subject to certain conditions including that he shall get himself treated at the hospital of his choice within Delhi NCR. He has been directed to surrender before the concerned jail authorities on the expiry of interim bail.

Senior advocate Pramod Kumar Dubey alongwith Advocates S S Boparai, Siddhant Saraswat and Aman Sharam appeared for Tanwar.

Senior Advocate Pramod Kumar Dubey submitted that the case of Tanwar for admitting him on interim bail falls within the purview of guidelines of the Superior Court as immediate treatment and surgery is required for him. It was also submitted that Tanwar falls within the category of sick as well as infirm and no other option is available to manage the illness of the applicant except undergoing the surgery as suggested by the doctors of the DDU Hospital.

It was also submitted that the accused has a known history of illness umbilical hernia, Gastric ulcer, fatty liver, Gal gallbladder polyps, Herpes Genitalis, diabetes, hypertension, obesity, lower back ache with radiculopathy.

His bail was opposed by Advocate Zoheb Hossain, special counsel for ED and Special public prosecutor (SPP) Simon Benjamin.

ED had arrested Ved pal Singh Tanwar under the provisions of the Prevention of Money-laundering Act (PMLA), 2002 on May 30, 2024, in connection with illegal mining in the Dadam area of Haryana.

As per ED, it initiated an investigation based on the Prosecution Complaint filed by the Regional Officer, Haryana State Pollution Control Board, Bhiwani before the Special Environment Court, Kurukshetra against the Firm M/s. Govardhan Mines and Minerals for violating the conditions of Environment Clearance under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 and subsequently an FIR was registered by Haryana Police under various sections of IPC, 1860.

The ED said that the investigation revealed that the firm has been involved in large-scale illegal and unscientific mining in the Dadam area of Haryana. It had led to large-scale damage to the environment and huge loss to the exchequer. It is worth mentioning here that rampant illegal mining in the area led to the killing of five persons due to landslides, ED said in a press note.

Earlier, a search and seizure was conducted in the case on August 3, 2023, wherein a large scale unaccounted cash documents, and jewellery of Rs. 3.7 crore, cash of Rs. 26.45 lakh and a Mercedes car worth Rs one Crore were seized.

During the search, it was found that Vedpal Singh Tanwar is the key managerial person who not only acquired mining rights illegally but also led to illegal and unscientific mining beyond permissible limits. The ED investigation further revealed that Tanwar gained to the tune of Rs 37 crore from the said illegal mining. He invested these gains, which are Proceeds of Crime (PoC), in movable and immovable properties. Vedpal Singh Tanwar suppressed the facts and misled the investigation being conducted by the ED.

In order to establish the money trail and other persons involved in the illegal mining activities, Vedpal Singh Tanwar was arrested and was remanded to 7 days ED custody in June, the ED said. (ANI)