Malegaon Money Laundering Case: Custody of Accused Vasim Bhesaniya Extended Until December 16 by Special PMLA Court | Representative pic
Mumbai: A special PMLA court has extended custody of Surat-based Vasim Bhesaniya, arrested in connection with the Malegaon money laundering case, till December 16, observing that there is a need to identify the other accused in the case.
The ED sought his further custody pleading that during the interrogation, “Bhesaniya has revealed further names of his other accomplices who in connivance with each other, committed the act of money laundering. They were found to be actively involved in the routing of proceeds of crime to the tune of hundreds of crores, through a maze of accounts, opened in the name of the fake / shell entities”.
Besides, the ED claimed: “The accused person revealed the bank and branch from where huge amount of money, running into hundreds of crores were withdrawn in cash. He also revealed the names of the persons to whom he handed over the cash amounting to hundreds of crores.”
The court, while allowing ED’s plea, observed: “It appears that the accused has disclosed the name of other accomplices as well as has revealed that the banks and branches from where huge amount of cash was withdrawn. He has also given the name of the persons to whom cash was handed over but fact remains that the investigation for identifying such person is still to be made.”
“Merely because names are given to the investigating officer of accomplices, as well as hawala traders, it does not mean that the complainant can lay his hands on them. They are required to be identified by the accused not only by face but also by showing the places from where they operate,” the court said, rejecting the objections raised by the defence that Bhesaniya has already disclosed whatever he knew.
