Delhi High Court seeks ED response in journalist Rai bail plea in money laundering case

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Wednesday asked Enforcement Directorate (ED) to file response on the bail plea of senior journalist Upendra Rai in a money laundering case.

The court has listed the matter for further hearing on March 19.

Rai is facing three different cases. He has already been granted bail in two cases being probed by the Central Bureau of Investigation.

But Rai cannot come out of jail as he continues to be in judicial custody in the money laundering, being probed by the ED.

The ED has alleged that Rai took "undue advantage of his connections with several government officials" to gain access to confidential information available with them about the penal proceedings being contemplated against various defaulters, at times in advance.

In its case filed on May 1, the CBI has accused him of using false information to obtain a pass to access sensitive areas in airports across the country. On January 7, the Delhi High Court granted him bail.

On May 5, the CBI filed the second FIR against Rai alleging that he took money from a Mumbai-based real estate company to settle an issue with income tax department and adverse media reporting. He was granted bail in the second case on December 11.