Delhi court grants interim bail to businessman-politician Ved Pal Tanwar on medical grounds

New Delhi [India], August 17 (ANI): Delhi’s Saket District Court has granted 56 days of interim bail to Haryana-based mining businessman Ved Pal Tanwar for treatment.

Tanwar was arrested by the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) in a money laundering case in May this year and since then he has been in custody. He sought interim bail on medical grounds.

Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) Ravindra Kumar Pandey granted interim bail to Ved Pal Tanwar after considering the medical records as well as submissions made by the counsel.

The accused had prayed for interim bail on medical grounds to undergo the surgery of umbilical hernia and post-surgery care and treatment.

“Considering the report of the Jail Authorities regarding the status of health condition of the accused/applicant alongwith the medical documents of the treatment so far provided to the applicant, the Court is of the view that the applicant/accused is entitled to be admitted on interim bail on medical ground for eight weeks (08 weeks) i.e. 56 days from the date of his release,” ASJ Pandey ordered on August 16.

He has been granted interim bail subject to certain conditions including that he shall get himself examined/treated/operated at the hospital of his choice within the territory of Delhi NCR. He is directed to surrender before the concerned jail authorities on the expiry of interim bail.

Senior advocate Pramod Kumar Dubey alongwith Advocates S S Boparai, Siddhant Saraswat and Aman Sharam appeared for Tanwar Senior Advocate Pramod Kumar Dubey submitted that the case of Tanwar for admitting him on interim bail falls within the purview of a guideline of the Superior Court as immediate treatment and surgery are required to him.

It was also submitted that Tanwar falls within the category of sick as well as infirm and no other option is available to manage the illness of the applicant except undergoing the surgery as suggested by the doctors of the DDU Hospital.

It was further submitted that accused/applicant may be admitted on interim bail for eight weeks so that he may undergo the surgery and manage the post surgery treatment/care on the terms and conditions as deemed appropriate by the Court and accused/applicant is ready to abide by the terms and conditions if any imposed by the Court.

It was also submitted that the accused had a known history of illness umbilical hernia, Gastric ulcer, fatty liver, Gal gallbladder polyps, Herpes Genitalis, diabetes, hypertension, obesity, lower back ache with radiculopathy.

His bail was opposed by Advocate Zoheb Hossain, special counsel for ED and Special public prosecutor (SPP) Simon Benjamin.

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 subsequently an FIR was registered by Haryana Police under various section of IPC, 1860.

ED said that the 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.

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.