A Delhi court has granted the Enforcement Directorate (ED) custody of Vinesh Kumar Chandel, co-founder of Indian Political Action Committee (I-PAC), for 10 days. The ED’s request for custodial interrogation was approved in connection with a money laundering investigation related to an alleged coal pilferage case. Chandel, a founding director of M/s Indian PAC Consulting Pvt Ltd, is accused of being actively involved in the generation, concealment, and laundering of illicit funds.
The ED’s remand application stated that Chandel played a central role in devising a mechanism for handling unaccounted funds. The agency alleged that the company utilized a modus operandi involving splitting receipts between banking channels and cash components, including funds purportedly received from political parties. These unaccounted funds were allegedly used for election-related expenses and influencing public perception.
According to the ED, Chandel introduced Rs 13.50 crore into the company’s books as unsecured, interest-free loans from M/s Ramasethu Infrastructure Pvt Ltd without any formal agreement or commercial rationale. The agency further claimed that bogus invoices were raised to justify funds received from third-party entities without providing actual consultancy services. Chandel is also accused of making false statements during the investigation and instructing the deletion of emails and financial data to allegedly destroy evidence.
Chandel’s counsel argued that the arrest was politically motivated, especially with the upcoming Assembly elections in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu. However, the court deemed custodial interrogation necessary to uncover the complete modus operandi of the alleged offence and identify other individuals involved. Chandel will undergo medical examinations every 48 hours during custody, with interrogations to be conducted in a location equipped with CCTV cameras.
