A Delhi court has placed Vinesh Chandel, director of the Indian Political Action Committee (I-PAC), in 10 days of Enforcement Directorate (ED) custody due to a money laundering investigation. The court found substantial evidence suggesting Chandel's involvement in the generation and diversion of crores of illicit funds. Additional sessions judge Shefali Barnala Tandon noted that Chandel utilized hawala channels to facilitate the movement of unaccounted cash and made false statements under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The investigation revealed transactions with various third-party entities lacking legitimate business purposes, indicating attempts to mislead authorities. The court also highlighted that Chandel deleted sensitive data from employee accounts following ED searches, which could obstruct the investigation. Chandel's arrest follows a raid on his residence and other I-PAC locations, amid allegations of illegal mining and coal transportation in West Bengal, where around ₹20 crore (approximately $2.4 million USD) of proceeds were allegedly funneled to I-PAC. His defense claims the arrest is politically motivated, coinciding with elections in Tamil Nadu and West Bengal.