ED has approached the Jammu and Kashmir High Court with a plea to cancel the bail of Choudhary Lal Singh, a former State minister embroiled in a money laundering case. The plea by the ED comes at a critical juncture, as Singh is poised to contest in the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections from the Udhampur constituency, representing the Congress party after his departure from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has approached the Jammu and Kashmir High Court with a plea to cancel the bail of Choudhary Lal Singh, a former State minister embroiled in a money laundering case. This case centers around allegations of irregularities in land acquisition by a non-governmental organization (NGO) managed by Singh’s wife. The plea by the ED comes at a critical juncture, as Singh is poised to contest in the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections from the Udhampur constituency, representing the Congress party after his departure from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
The controversy surrounding Choudhary Lal Singh escalated when the Principal District and Sessions Court in Jammu granted him interim bail on November 23, 2023. This decision has now been challenged by the ED on the grounds that the sessions court lacked the jurisdiction to adjudicate matters under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), arguing that such cases should be exclusively handled by a special court designated for PMLA cases.
The High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh had scheduled a hearing to address the ED’s challenge against the sessions court’s order. However, due to time constraints, the case, initially listed before Justice Sanjay Dhar last Tuesday, has been postponed to April 20. This date is notably a day after the Udhampur constituency goes to the polls on April 19, adding a layer of political intrigue to the legal proceedings.
Singh’s political career has been marked by controversy, particularly following his resignation from his ministerial position and subsequent exit from the BJP in 2018. His departure was fueled by widespread criticism over his participation in a rally supporting individuals accused in the Kathua rape case, an incident that drew national outrage.
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The legal battle over Singh’s bail status is not confined to him alone; his wife and their daughter, Kranti Singh, are also implicated in the same money laundering case and are currently out on bail. The ED’s motion to revoke Singh’s bail underscores the agency’s stance on ensuring that cases of financial irregularities, especially those involving public figures, are rigorously pursued and adjudicated in the appropriate legal forums.
Representing the Central government, Deputy Solicitor General of India Vishal Sharma made the case before the High Court, while Advocates RK Kotwal and Fahim Ahmed Mir stood for Choudhary Lal Singh. As the legal and political drama unfolds, the outcome of the ED’s plea against Singh’s bail could have significant implications, not just for the accused and his political aspirations but also for the broader legal and electoral landscape in Jammu and Kashmir.
CASE TITLE- Union of India vs. Choudhary Lal Singh
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