No temporary bail for Pradeep Sharma

AHMEDABAD: A special court for Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) cases refused to grant temporary bail on Thursday to suspended IAS Pradeep Sharma . Sharma is currently behind bars in an alleged case of money laundering lodged by Enforcement Directorate (ED). Sharma had sought bail from September 18 to September 22 to pay homage and observe rituals for his late mother during the upcoming 'shraddh' season.
But special PMLA court judge A C Joshi was not convinced, and observed while rejecting the bail plea that there were chances Sharma might tamper with evidence if he was allowed to step out of jail.
Sharma was arrested by the ED on August 1, this year, under provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002, days after the Supreme Court vacated an interim stay on his arrest. He was sent to judicial custody on August 8, and is currently lodged at Sabarmati Central Jail.
The case pertains to the sanction of government land in Bhuj for industrial use to M/s Welspun India Limited and its group companies, Welspun Power and Steel and Welspun Gujarat Style Roharan, as part of a suspected quid pro quo.