SRINAGAR: A local court on Tuesday granted the Enforcement Directorate (ED) an extension of five days in the custody of former Jammu and Kashmir minister Lal Singh, who is facing charges in a money laundering case.
Lal Singh, also the chairman of the Dogra Swabhiman Sangathan Party (DSSP), had been apprehended on November 7 from a residence in the Chawadi area of Sainik Colony, following the dismissal of his anticipatory bail plea by a special court.
Under investigation by the ED, Lal Singh is linked to a case involving an educational trust operated by his wife and former legislator, Kanta Andotra.
Special public prosecutor Ashwani Khajuria conveyed that Singh appeared before the special court via video conference as his seven-day remand expired. Quoting the court order, Khajuria stated, “The investigation of the case is at an initial stage… the accused is involved in a serious and non-bailable offence; he is remanded to ED custody for a period of five days only from November 14 to 18.”
The court instructed the ED to present the accused through virtual mode on November 18 and urged the investigating officer to expedite the inquiry.
Khajuria mentioned that the ED submitted a comprehensive report in the court of the principal sessions judge, Jammu, in response to a post-arrest bail plea by the accused.
