New Delhi, Feb 8 (UNI) The Supreme Court on Thursday upheld the order of the Punjab and Haryana High Court which granted bail to Bhupinder Singh in a case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.
Bhupinder, former Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi’s nephew, has been implicated in an illegal sand mining case.
A Division Bench of Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Dipankar Datta while upholding the High Court order said, “We have some reservations with the order, as it appears that the order was passed without giving opportunity to the petitioner – Enforcement Directorate should file a reply,” the judges said.
The Supreme Court on February 5 confirmed the Punjab and Haryana High Court’s order allowing the bail to Bhupinder. He had moved the bail application before the High Court in a case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act arising out of an alleged illegal sand mining case.
The Supreme Court clarified that ED would be allowed to take steps in case any predicate offence is registered.
“However, we clarify that in case any predicate offence (s) is revived/registered, it will be open to the petitioner – Enforcement Directorate to take steps and proceed under law.”
This matter pertains to an FIR Lodged in 2018 at Rahon in which the name of Bhupinder was mentioned. However, his name was subsequently removed and did not appear in the police challan copy.
