Interim bail rejected, industrialist Chunni Lal Gaba back in jail

MOHALI: Interim bail granted to industrialist Chunni Lal Gaba, 72, in a money-laundering case in the wake of Covid-19 was cancelled by a court on Saturday.

Gaba surrendered before the CBI special court, which is designated ED court as well, and sent to judicial custody. Gaba’s interim bail was dismissed in the wake of the Punjab and Haryana high court order of July 2 that was in line with the Supreme Court observation that “bail in cases involving heinous crimes, like the offences under the Narcotic Drugs & Psychotropic Substances Act, the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 and the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002, may not be granted as a matter of right”.

Gaba was granted interim bail on March 28 and it was extended on May 8. Gaba, in February, had surrendered in court in connection with the money-laundering case against him.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) had chargesheeted nine members of Gaba’s family, associated with his 11 firms, in connection with the Bhola drug case for the alleged violation of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

Besides Gaba, his three sons, father Suresh Kumar, brother Harmesh Gaba, 23-year-old grandson Khushwant Gaba, Gurjit’s wife Rekha and Harmesh’s wife Sudesh Rani were booked.

The ED’s chargesheet had listed 11 firms, jointly owned by the Gaba family, and their properties at Phillaur, Goraya and Una. The ED had registered the money laundering case on the statement of ex-DSP and drug lord Jagdish Singh Bhola.