Delhi High Court Notifies ED on Vivo Money Laundering Case Bail Plea

The Delhi High Court has issued a notice to the Enforcement Directorate regarding a bail plea by businessman Hari Om Rai in the Vivo money laundering case. Accused in a case involving Chinese company Vivo, Rai's previous bail was denied due to the seriousness of charges and questionable conduct.

On Thursday, the Delhi High Court served a notice to the Enforcement Directorate in response to a bail plea filed by businessman Hari Om Rai, implicated in the Vivo money laundering case. Formerly the Chairman and Managing Director of Lava International Ltd, Rai faces allegations related to money laundering activities associated with Chinese smartphone giant Vivo.

The court issued the notice on both the bail application and a writ petition challenging Rai's arrest under Section 19 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). With the bail hearing set for October 18 and the writ petition scheduled for November 2024, Senior Lawyer Vikas Pahwa is representing Rai in the ongoing legal battle.

The trial court recently denied him bail, underscoring the gravity of the accusations and citing concerns over Rai's past questionable conduct. Defending his position, Rai detailed an encounter with Vivo's CEO in 2013 to explore a potential joint venture that never materialized, arguing this interaction doesn't imply wrongful conduct, particularly amidst current Indo-China tensions.

The Enforcement Directorate accuses Rai of fraudulent activities, involving the creation of corporations linked to Vivo using forged identification documents. Since beginning its investigation under the PMLA on February 3, 2022, the ED has made multiple arrests and seized substantial amounts of cash, with the investigation progressing as Rai pursues further legal avenues.

(With inputs from agencies.)