The Enforcement Directorate arrested freelance journalist Rajeev Sharma on July 1 in connection with a money laundering case, the ED informed on Saturday. After producing him at a Delhi Court, he was sent to seven days ED custody.
The case against Sharma is based on the FIR and charge sheet filed by Delhi Police under provisions of the Indian Penal Code and the Official Secrets Act. The official said that Sharma had supplied confidential and sensitive information to Chinese intelligence officers for remuneration, thereby compromising the security and national interests of India. He said that the probe revealed that the remuneration for Sharma and other unknown persons was generated through hawala means by Mahipalpur based shell companies. The companies were run by Chinese nationals Zhang Cheng aka Suraj, Zhang Lixia aka Usha and Quing Shi, along with a Nepali national Sher Singh aka Raj Bohara, he added. Huge transactions made with various Chinese companies and other trading companies in India, apart from cash, are also being examined.
"These Chinese companies were acting as a conduit for the Chinese Intelligence agencies to provide remuneration for persons like Sharma who indulged in criminal activities. Sharma also received money through benami bank accounts in order to conceal his involvement in criminal activities," he added.