Virbhadra, wife get bail in PMLA case

New Delhi, March 22

A special court on Thursday granted bail to former Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, his wife and three others in the Rs 7-crore money laundering case.

Special Judge Arvind Kumar granted relief to Virbhadra and his wife Pratibha Singh, who were present in the court in response to the summons issued against them on the last date of hearing.

The court also granted bail to Universal Apple Associate owner Chunni Lal Chauhan, besides other accused Prem Raj and Lawan Kumar Roach.

All accused got relief on furnishing a personal bond of Rs 50,000 and one surety of the same amount each.

During the proceedings, Enforcement Directorate (ED) counsel Nitesh Rana opposed their bail plea, seeking judicial custody for them.

The court, however, granted them bail, considering they were not arrested by the ED during investigation.

On February 12, the court had issued summons against the accused saying there was “prima facie” enough evidence against them.

The ED had chargesheeted 83-year-old Virbhadra, accusing him of projecting around Rs 7 crore “proceeds of crime” as agricultural income in connivance with his wife and others and had invested the sum in LIC policies. — PTI