Delhi: Special Court grants ED custody to Cryptocurrency handler Lakshay Vij for 5 days in money laundering case

New Delhi [India], July 24 : A Special Court under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), New Delhi has granted Enforcement Directorate (ED) custody for five days to Cryptocurrency handler Lakshay Vij on July 23 who was arrested on July 22 in a money laundering case, the ED said on Wednesday.
Taking to X ED posted, "ED, Delhi has arrested Lakshay Vij, Cryptocurrency handler on July 22, 2024 under PMLA, 2002. He was produced before the Hon'ble Special Court (PMLA), New Delhi on July 23, 2024, and the Hon'ble Court has granted ED custody for 05 days."
Earlier, Rouse Avenue Court on Tuesday remanded Lakshay Vij to five days of Enforcement Directorate (ED) custody in a money laundering case.
This case is linked to cheating with a US citizen woman worth USD 4 lakh and laundering of the money through various bank accounts of bogus entities.
Special judge Gaurav Rao remanded Lakshay Vij to five days ED custody till July 28.
ED had sought seven days of custody for Vij, who was arrested on Monday.
'Considering the nature of allegations and detailed submissions made in the application as well as other material shown at the time of submission seeking remand which includes the statement of Praful Gupta according to which the money was laundered as per instruction of Lakshay Vij as well as extract of WhatsApp/messages and to unearth the money trail, ascertain the role of others involved accused Lakshay Vij is remanded to the ED custody till July 28," the court said in the order.
Advocate Nitesh Rana appeared for the accused. He opposed the custody demand and submitted that no ground of arrest was made out and that the same was illegal/unlawful.
On the other hand, Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) Simon Benjamin sought seven days custody of Vij.
ED submitted that its case is based on a case by the CBI registered against Prafull Gupta and others for allegedly committing criminal conspiracy and cheating with a US citizen.
It is alleged that her laptop was hacked and a number flashed on the screen. When she contacted the number, a person impersonating as a Microsoft employee responded and suggested that her USD 4 lakh investment in a company was not safe. He misguided her into transferring her money to a more secure account. He also gave the victim a different number to contact the company.
When she contacted the given number, the caller gained remote access to her computer and opened a cryptocurrency account in her name using her email and mobile number. He also advised her to transfer USD 4 lakh to that account.
The victim transferred the amount to her bank account and thereafter, she transferred USD 4 lakh to a cryptocurrency account. When she logged into her account after a few weeks, she found the account empty.
The defrauded amount was converted into cryptocurrency and further transferred to other accused persons in their Binance and FTX wallet addresses.
The victim, Lisa Roth, filed a complaint and the information was given to Indian authorities. The CBI registered an FIR against Prafful Gupta, Sarita Gupta and other accused persons for allegedly committing the offence of cheating.