The Delhi High Court, presided over by Justice Manoj Kumar Ohri, has called upon the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to state its position on a bail application filed by Hari Om Rai, Managing Director of Lava International. Rai is embroiled in a contentious money laundering case with connections to Chinese smartphone giant, Vivo.
Rai, arrested in October of the previous year, faces charges levied by the ED under the stringent provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), focusing on allegations of financial misconduct linked to Vivo-India. The court has issued notices concerning both Rai’s bail plea and his petition contesting the legitimacy of his arrest.
This legal entanglement began when the ED accused Vivo-India and several affiliates of facilitating illicit financial flows that reportedly undermined India’s economic sovereignty. In a dramatic turn of events in July 2022, the ED conducted raids on Vivo-India and related entities, unveiling what it described as a significant money laundering operation involving Chinese nationals and various Indian firms.
According to the ED, an astonishing sum of Rs 62,476 crore was unlawfully transferred out of India by Vivo-India to China, purportedly to dodge local tax obligations. Despite these grave accusations, Vivo-India has consistently denied any wrongdoing, asserting its commitment to legal compliance and ethical standards.
