India's Enforcement Directorate (ED) has arrested Vinesh Chandel, a director and co-founder of political consultancy firm I-PAC (Indian Political Action Committee), on money-laundering charges linked to an alleged coal scam in West Bengal. Chandel was taken into custody in Delhi under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), with authorities alleging that a hawala operator connected to the coal-smuggling ring had channelled tens of crores of rupees to I-PAC's registered company. The arrest comes weeks before the West Bengal state assembly elections, lending the case significant political weight.