Espionage Case: Delhi Court Remands Freelance Journalist Rajeev Sharma To 14 Days Judicial Custody

A Delhi Court on Wednesday sent freelance journalist Rajeev Sharma to 14 days judicial remand after he was arrested for allegedly supplying confidential information to Chinese Officials, in exchange of remuneration. Additional Sessions Judge Dharmendra Rana also granted two days time to the Enforcement Directorate to file it's reply in the bail application filed by Sharma. The matter will now be considered on July 16 on the aforesaid aspect. The development came after Sharma was further remanded by the Court last week to ED custody which came to an end today. ED had initiated investigation on the basis of an FIR filed against Rajeev Sharma under the provisions of IPC, Official Secrets Act. The custody was sought on the ground that the digital data collected so far in the case is yet to be analysed and that Sharma was non-cooperative by giving evasive replies in the case. It was the case of ED that Sharma had supplied confidential information to Chinese Officials in return of some remuneration thereby comprising the security and national interest of the Country. It was however submitted on behalf of Sharma that the ED is mischievously carrying out the instant parallel proceedings pursuant to the investigation carried out by the Special Cell in order to harass him. It was also submitted that he can explain each and every minute detail of the payments received by him and that he was absolutely innocent. The Court had earlier sent Sharma to 7 days Enforcement Directorate's custody on July 3 after observing that the custodial interrogation was necessary owing to the intricate nature of investigation. According to a press release issued by the ED, it has been stated thus: "During the investigation, it was revealed that Rajeev Sharma had supplied confidential and sensitive information to Chinese Intelligence officers, in exchange for remuneration thereby compromising the security and national interests of India. It was further revealed that cash for remuneration of Rajeev Sharma and other unknown persons was being generated through hawala means by Mahipalpur based shell companies that were run by Chinese nationals namely Zhang ChengSuraj, Zhang Lixia @ Usha and Quing Shi along with a Nepali national Sher Singh Raj Bohara." "Apart from cash, huge transactions were made with various Chinese companies and some other trading companies in India which are being examined. These Chinese companies were acting as a conduit for the Chinese Intelligence agencies to provide remuneration for persons like Rajeev Sharma indulged in criminal activities. Rajeev Sharma also received money through benami bank accounts in order to conceal his involvement in criminal activities." Title: Directorate of Enforcement v. Rajeev Sharma

Espionage Case: Delhi Court Remands Freelance Journalist Rajeev Sharma To 14 Days Judicial Custody

Nupur Thapliyal

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