Charge sheet against Deepak Talwar before April 1: ED tells Delhi court

The Enforcement Directorate on Wednesday told the Delhi High Court that it will file a charge sheet against corporate lobbyist Deepak Talwar before April 1 in connection with the money laundering case against him.

"Before April 1, we will file a charge sheet against Deepak Talwar for his role in causing loss to Indian Air carrier Air India by giving its profitable route to the private airlines," ED's counsel Special Public Prosecutor DP Singh told the division bench of the High Court comprising Justices Hima Kohli and Vinod Goel.

The court was hearing a habeas corpus plea filed by Talwar's counsels Vikram Choudhary and Tanseem Ahmad Mir alleging illegal detention of their client.

This will be the first charge sheet against Talwar since he was extradited to India from Dubai.

The bench refused to hear Talwar's prayer challenging certain sections of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). However, it will continue hearing in Talwar's petition challenging his detention under habeas corpus.

Habeas corpus is a writ requiring a person under arrest to be brought before a judge or into court, especially to secure the person's release unless lawful grounds are shown for their detention.

Following the arguments, the Delhi court bench posted the matter for hearing on April 4.

Talwar, who was extradited to India from Dubai along with the businessman Rajeev Saxena on January 30, is currently under ED's custody. He has been accused of facilitating dispersal of profit making routes of Air India to private airlines using his contacts.