ED arrests I-PAC co founder Vinesh Chandel in Delhi in West Bengal coal scam money laundering case after raids at 11 premises, incriminating Hawala evidence seized.
The ED said that the searches on April 2 revealed various incriminating materials relating to money laundering, domestic and international Hawala.
(Representational image)
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Monday arrested Vinesh Chandel, a director and co-founder of political consultancy firm I-PAC, in a money-laundering case related to an alleged coal scam in West Bengal.
According to officials, Vinesh Chandel was taken into custody under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in Delhi.
This came days after the ED conducted raids at 11 premises of Indian Pac Consulting Private Limited (I-PAC) in Hyderabad, Bengaluru, and Delhi in the Bengal coal smuggling case. The searches were also carried out at locations linked to I-PAC director Rishi Raj Singh in Bengaluru.
“On 02.04.2026 searches at 11 premises were conducted in Hyderabad, Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Vijaywada and Ranchi. The searches were conducted on the office premises of IPAC, residence of its directors and offices of some companies linked with IPAC. During the Search various incriminating materials relating to money laundering, domestic and international Hawala were found and seized,” according to a statement by the ED.
I-PAC has been closely associated with the Trinamool, shaping election strategies for the Mamata Banerjee-led party.
The probe into the coal scam case pertains to charges that coal was being illegally mined and stolen from the lease area of Eastern Coalfields Limited (ECL) in and around West Bengal’s Paschim Bardhaman district in collusion with officials of the railways and CISF, with links to Hawala operators unearthed.
An FIR in the case was registered in 2020.
April 13, 2026, 23:12 IST
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