Mumbai: The special PMLA court on Tuesday granted bail to two of the employees who worked at the office of Enforcement Directorate (ED) on contract basis, in connection with the case registered against them for leaking investigating details to the family of Amar Mulchandani, the former chairman of Seva Vikas Co-operative Bank (SVB).
The ED had arrested Vishal Kudekar and Yogesh Wagule in March 2023, on the allegations that they leaked crucial details related to investigation to one Bablu Sonkar, a man deployed by Mulchandani to keep a watch on ED's investigation.
It was alleged that Sonkar paid Rs13,000 to Kudekar, who, in turn, paid Rs 2,500 to Wagule from the said amount. Sonkar was reportedly working for Mulchandani, receiving a remuneration of Rs 53,000.
The court while granting bail to the two noted that, role of Kudekar and Wagule is lesser than Sonkar, who has been granted bail. “Record shows that the amount paid to Sonkar was given out of the proceeds of crime generated by Mulchandani,” the court said adding that the amount involved is too meager which can be exempt from the money laundering allegation under PML Act.
Hence, the court while granting them bail said that the accused are in custody since March 2023. The court also said that there is no evidence that the amount paid to them was from the proceeds of the crime.
