ED arrests I-PAC Co-founder Vinesh Chandel in coal scam-linked money laundering case

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has arrested Vinesh Chandel , co-founder and director of political consultancy firm Indian Political Action Committee (I-PAC), in connection with a money-laundering case linked to an alleged coal scam in West Bengal. A special court in Delhi has remanded him to 10 days of ED custody following his arrest late Monday evening.

Chandel was taken into custody under provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) after prolonged questioning. Officials said he was produced before a designated PMLA court, which granted the agency custody for further investigation.

The case originates from a November 2020 FIR registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), alleging a multi-crore coal pilferage scam involving illegal mining and transportation from Eastern Coalfields Limited mines in the Kunustoria and Kajora areas near Asansol. According to the ED, a “hawala” operator linked to the smuggling network routed tens of crores of rupees to Indian PAC Consulting Private Limited, I-PAC’s registered entity.

As part of the probe, the ED conducted searches on April 2 at premises linked to Chandel in Delhi, co-founder Rishi Raj Singh in Bengaluru, and former AAP communications in-charge Vijay Nair in Mumbai. Earlier raids in January at I-PAC’s Kolkata office and the residence of founder Pratik Jain sparked controversy after West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee intervened, alleging the agency was targeting election-related materials.

Reacting to the arrest, Abhishek Banerjee raised concerns over the timing, questioning the fairness of the electoral process ahead of the upcoming West Bengal Assembly Elections 2026 .

The ED has also approached the Supreme Court seeking a CBI probe into alleged obstruction during its earlier searches, as the politically sensitive case continues to unfold.