Delhi court denies bail to RJD MP Amarendra

New Delhi, Jun 23 (PTI): A Delhi court on Wednesday dismissed the bail application of RJD Rajya Sabha MP Amarendra Dhari Singh, arrested in connection with a money laundering case linked to an alleged fertiliser scam.
Special Judge Vikas Dhull denied the relief to Singh, saying the accusations against him were serious as he was involved in money laundering of around Rs 685 crore.
Secondly, accused is a sitting Rajya Sabha MP and is also a member of Parliamentary Standing Committee of fertilisers. The present offence pertains to generation of proceeds of crime while committing the offence in the import of fertilisers.
Therefore, there is a likelihood that accused being a powerful person, may influence certain witnesses, who are working with different entities involved in the import of fertilizers, the judge said.
The court also noted that the statement of various witnesses to whom cash was paid on behalf of the accused was yet to be recorded and if he is released on bail, then there is a possibility of him influencing those witnesses.
The court was also told by ED’s Special Public Prosecutor Nitesh Rana that the investigation in the case was at the initial stage. Further, investigation is at the stage of collection of evidence regarding identification of proceeds of crime and finding of trail of remaining ill gotten money, which in the case of money laundering is generally routed through a complex web of companies, the court observed. The MP and businessman was arrested under sections of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
The case pertains to an alleged fertiliser scam linked to the IFFCO and India Potash Limited (IPL), in which the CBI had registered a corruption case last month. Dhari was stated to be the senior vice president of a firm involved in the case, identified as Jyoti Trading Corporation.