New Delhi: Lakshay Vij, accused in a money laundering case linked to transnational cyber fraud, withdrew his bail plea from the Delhi High Court on Friday.
Currently on medical bail, Vij faced opposition from the Enforcement Directorate (ED), which had filed a reply against his plea. Justice Anup Jairam Bhambhani allowed Vij’s counsel to withdraw the application, granting him the liberty to approach the trial court for bail instead.
Vij was arrested in July 2024, and his bail plea was previously dismissed by the Rouse Avenue Court in November 2024. The court cited his alleged role in creating fake bank accounts to launder money. A Prosecution Complaint (PC) was filed, revealing that approximately Rs 500 crores were layered and transferred through dummy accounts in just one year.
According to the PC, these accounts received funds from the hacking of Lisa Roth’s laptop, leading to a fraud of USD 400,000. The ED alleged that Vij played a key role in laundering the stolen funds through fake accounts and cryptocurrency transactions.
In its November 18 order, Special Judge Rao noted that, Vij was instrumental in opening fake bank accounts and facilitating the transfer of illicit funds from the sale of USDTs (cryptocurrency transactions).
Independent witness statements, including those from Ashish Kumar, along with WhatsApp chats from the group “LV persnal jaiguruji”, indicated Vij’s deep involvement in the scam.
The court viewed him as a flight risk, highlighting his previous travel to Dubai and entry into India via Nepal to evade authorities.
The court rejected Vij’s bail plea due to concerns that he might
influence witnesses or commit further offenses if released. The ED also warned that he could attempt to flee the country, undermining the trial.
Beyond money laundering, the PC also alleged that Vij operated multiple online betting platforms and promoted them through Instagram influencers. The ED’s Chhattisgarh office reported his involvement in the Mahadev betting app case, further complicating his legal troubles.
The court emphasized, “With such allegations, it cannot be said that he is unlikely to commit further offenses while on bail.”
The ED pointed out that as per immigration records, Vij was still in Dubai. His history of using land routes instead of direct flights raised concerns that he could abscond again. The court stated:
“Opening a Lookout Circular (LOC) may not be effective if the applicant chooses alternate routes to escape. One of the masterminds, Karan Chugh, is already absconding. If Vij is released, the situation could worsen.”
Given the seriousness of the allegations, the pending trial, and his potential to evade authorities, Vij remains under legal scrutiny, with his next legal move expected at the trial court.