Panchkula court sends AAP man Deepak Singla in judicial custody

Chandigarh: A Panchkula court on Tuesday sent AAP functionary Deepak Singla, arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in a money laundering case, to one-day judicial custody and deferred hearing on the ED's remand plea and defence applications till Wednesday.Singla, who was arrested in New Delhi on Monday, was produced before additional district and sessions judge Bikramjit Arora as Special PMLA judge Vijayant Sehgal was on leave.The ED sought 10-day custody of Singla, claiming custodial interrogation was required in connection with an alleged Rs 150-crore bank fraud and proceeds of crime linked to the case.Defence counsel opposed the plea and moved separate applications before the court. After hearing arguments from both sides, the court remanded Singla to judicial custody till Wednesday.The matter will now be heard by Special PMLA and CBI judge Vijayant Sehgal.Singla was arrested following ED searches at premises linked to him and alleged hawala operators in Delhi and Goa on Monday. Sources said searches were also conducted at a flat in Dona Paula near Panaji.According to ED sources, the money laundering case pertains to an alleged bank loan fraud in which Singla and some of his family members are accused of defrauding Oriental Bank of Commerce of over Rs 150 crore.ED officials alleged that Singla was suspected of handling hawala operations for movement of funds between Delhi and Goa.The ED had earlier arrested other accused in the case, who are currently out on bail.