The pleas of businessman Abhishek Vermaand his wife for their release from judicial custody in the Enforcement Directorate’s money launderingcase was dismissed today by a Delhi court.
Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Gautam Manan also extended the judicial custody of Verma and his Romanian wife Anca Maria Neascu till October 1 after the couple was produced before him following the issuance of production warrants against them on September 10.
“I am rejecting your applications. The judicial custody is extended till October 1,” the judge said.
The court on September 10 had issued production warrants for today against both the accused after they failed to appear before it as they were then in the CBI’s custody in connection with a case lodged under the Official Secrets Act.
The couple had sought their release from judicial custody in the money laundering case saying the “continuity of their custody has been broken” by the ED as their judicial custody was “not extended” on September 10.
The couple, in their applications, had said they are “not in custody” in this case and granting their fresh custody will “tantamount to fresh arrest” and will lead to “severe agony and injustice” to them.
The ED had registered a money laundering case against the couple for allegedly receiving money from a Swiss arms-dealing firm to keep it out of the Indian government’s blacklist.
Verma and his wife, in their separate pleas, had said although they were scheduled to be produced before the court on September 10, the ED “did not take any step” to ensure their presence for extension of judicial custody
