I-PAC director gets bail day after Bengal polls as ED does not oppose plea

A day after the conclusion of the West Bengal polls, the director of Trinamool's political strategist consultancy was granted bail after the ED said it would not oppose his plea.

In Short

• ED did not oppose bail, citing Chandel's cooperation with investigation
• Court grants bail, orders him not to tamper with evidence, influence witnesses
• Trinamool's strategist was arrested days before West Bengal polls

Delhi’s Patiala House Court on Thursday granted bail to Vinesh Chandel, co-founder and director of the Indian Political Action Committee (I-PAC), a political strategy consultancy linked to Trinamool Congress, in a money-laundering case. The court granted relief a day after the conclusion of the West Bengal Assembly elections, after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) did not oppose Chandel’s regular bail application.

He had sought interim relief on humanitarian grounds, citing his mother’s deteriorating health as she suffers from dementia.

Recording the ED’s stand, the court noted that the agency did not oppose the plea in view of Chandel’s “voluntary and purposeful cooperation” during the investigation. However, the central agency sought conditions, and the court directed Chandel not to tamper with evidence or influence witnesses.

“In view of the voluntary and purposeful cooperation extended by Vinesh Chandel during the investigation and without prejudice to the rights and contention of ED, ED is not opposing the present bail application," the central agency told the court.

The bench further ordered that he must cooperate with the probe, furnish all details sought by investigators, and remain accessible throughout the investigation.

Senior advocate Vikas Pahwa, appearing for Chandel, said the ED had raised no objection to the bail plea, citing his cooperation with the investigation.

"We filed a regular bail application a few days ago, and the ED was supposed to file a reply. Yesterday, they filed their reply and raised no objection to the grant of bail, primarily on the grounds that he has cooperated with the investigating agency and has provided voluntary and purposeful cooperation," he said.

According to the ED, Chandel’s consultancy was involved in a money laundering case, with the investigation uncovering multiple instances of financial irregularities, including the receipt of both accounted and unaccounted funds, unsecured loans lacking legitimate business backing, issuance of bogus invoices, and the routing of funds through third parties.

Chandel was arrested on April 13, just days ahead of the state Assembly elections, and was later remanded to judicial custody. The court had allowed the ED to interrogate him in custody, noting there were grounds to believe he was actively involved in the generation, diversion, and possession of proceeds of crime worth several crores in connection with an alleged coal scam in West Bengal.

His arrest had triggered a political controversy, with the Trinamool Congress alleging it was politically motivated and aimed at intimidating consultants working with opposition parties. Authorities, however, have denied any political angle, maintaining that due legal process was followed.

The Trinamool Congress also staged protests against the arrest, accusing the ruling establishment of misusing central agencies. In one instance, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee visited the I-PAC office during an ED raid and took away certain documents, intensifying the political standoff.

- Ends