New Delhi: A Delhi court on Tuesday dismissed the bail plea of journalist Upendra Rai, who was arrested in a money laundering case related to alleged extortion and dubious financial transactions.

Additional sessions judge Rakesh Syal denied the relief to Mr Rai, saying the allegations against him were serious.

The court took note of the submissions made by ED’s (Enforcement Directorate) special public prosecutors NK Matta and Nitesh Rana that the accused may influence the witnesses and hamper the probe if released on bail.

The journalist was arrested on June 8 by the ED under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) at the Tihar Jail here moments after he secured bail in a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) case related to alleged extortion and dubious financial transactions.

It also noted the ED’s submission that the investigation was still on in relation to the “top secret documents” recovered from Rai’s possession and the agency was trying to find out how he procured them.