Haryana illegal Mining case: Delhi HC issues notice to ED in Ved Pal Tanwar's plea challenging his arrest

New Delhi [India], September 23 (ANI): The Delhi High Court on Monday issued notice to Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Ved Pal Singh Tanwar's plea challenging his arrest in Haryana illegal Mining case. He has been arrested by the ED in connection to a money laundering case.
Justice Neena Bansal Krishna issued notice to ED and sought response. The matter has been listed on October 18 for further hearing. Earlier, he was granted interim bail for 56 days on medical grounds.
Tanwar has moved a plea through advocate Sumer Singh Boparai and Aman Sharma. He has challenged his arrest by the ED, subsequent remand by the trial court. He has also sought a direction for his release in this case.
It is stated that the Arresting Officer has failed in complying with the mandatory requirements/ safeguards enshrined under Sections 19(1) and 19(2) of the PMLA. The arrest of the Petitioner is wholly arbitrary and bereft of any application of mind.
Furthermore, the non-supply of the 'reasons to believe' strikes at the root of the Respondent Agency's exercise of the power of arrest under Section 19 of PMLA, the plea stated.
ED had arrested Ved pal Singh Tanwar under the provisions of Prevention of Money-laundering Act (PMLA), 2002 on 30.05.2024 in connection with illegal mining in Dadam area of Haryana.
As per ED, it initiated an investigation on the basis of the Prosecution Complaint filed by the Regional Officer, Haryana State Pollution Control Board, Bhiwani before the Special Environment Court, Kurukshetra against the Firm M/s Govardhan Mines and Minerals for violating the conditions of Environment Clearance under Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 and subsequent an FIR was registered by Haryana Police under various section of IPC, 1860.
ED said that investigation revealed that the firm has been involved in large scale illegal and unscientific mining in the Dadam area of Haryana. It had led to large scale damage to the Environment and huge loss to the exchequer. It is worth mentioning here that rampant illegal mining in the area led to killing 5 persons due to landslides, ED said in a press note.
Earlier, a search and seizure was conducted in the case on 03.08.2023 wherein large scale unaccounted cash documents, jewellery of Rs 3.7 crore, cash of Rs 26.45 Lakh and a Mercedes car worth Rs. 1 Crore were seized.
During the search, it was found that Vedpal Singh Tanwar is the key managerial person who not only acquired mining rights illegally but also led to illegal and unscientific mining beyond permissible limits.
ED investigation further revealed that Tanwar gained to the tune of Rs. 37 Crore from the said illegal mining. He invested these gains, which are Proceeds of Crime (PoC), in movable and immovable properties. Vedpal Singh Tanwar suppressed the facts and misled the investigation being conducted by the ED.
In order to establish the money trail and other persons involved in the illegal mining activities, Vedpal Singh Tanwar was arrested and was remanded to 7 days ED custody in June, the ED said. (ANI)