Drug trafficking: Court issues LRs to US, Canada, Hong Kong

A Delhi court has sought the help of authorities in the US, Canada and Hong Kong for collection of evidence and documents in connection with a case of alleged laundering of money globally in a drug trafficking racket involving three Indians.
The court has issued letters of request (LRs) to competent authorities in these countries highlighting the treaties with them for examining the facts and other circumstances concerning the case probed by Enforcement Directorate (ED).
Additional Sessions Judge Neena Bansal Krishna allowed the plea filed by the ED in the case in which the probe agency had named Amritsar residents Gagandeep Singh and Paramdeep Singh, Delhi-based Gaurav Gupta and firm Raja and Co Forex Pvt Ltd in a charge sheet as accused.

The order came after ED's special public prosecutor N K Matta told the court that since investigation in the case has international ramifications and probe has to be carried out at various places in India and abroad, an LR may be made to competent authorities in the US, Hong Kong and Canada with whom India has Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT).
"I have heard the submissions and perused the record and also the documents which prima facie show that the documents and evidence is required to be collected from the US with whom India has Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty," the judge said.

"Having regard to the investigations which have been so far made and also the submissions made, Letter of Request be issued to the competent authority of USA (and also Hong Kong and Canada) for examination of facts and circumstances of this case and for collection of evidence and documents which may then be forwarded to this court," the court said.
The plea seeking issuance of LRs was filed by ED's Assistant Director M S Yadav in which the agency said that for its investigation against three individual accused, this was needed.
ED had earlier named these four accused, including the firm, in the charge sheet for the offence punishable under provision of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).