ED Raid in Haryana:On January 4, the central agency conducted raids against Congress MLA from Sonipat Surender Panwar and former legislator Dilbag Singh in connection with a money laundering case involving suspected illicit mining in the Yamunanagar district of Haryana.
The money laundering case is the result of multiple First Information Reports (FIRs) filed by the Haryana Police to investigate earlier allegations of illicit mining of boulders, gravel, and sand in Yamunanagar and surrounding regions, even after the lease had expired and a court order had been issued.
The two politicians and associated entities had about 20 addresses in Yamunanagar, Sonipat, Mohali, Faridabad, Chandigarh, and Karnal covered during the raids carried out in accordance with the PMLA (Prevention of Money Laundering Act).
From the locations connected to Singh and his associates, four to five kilogrammes of gold and paperwork referring to holdings both in India and overseas were found.
Following a mining prohibition by the National Green Tribunal (NGT), the Haryana police lodged several cases to investigate the unlawful mining of boulders, gravel, and sand in Yamunanagar and nearby areas. In 2013, the investigative agency filed a money laundering case in response to these allegations.
The Haryana government launched the “e-Ravaana” online site in 2020 to streamline royalty collection and stop tax evasion in mining districts. The central agency claims that the MLAs are in charge of this fictitious programme.
