The Indian AML Watchdog ED took Lakhwinder Singh into the custody who were involved in the illegal mining that was taking place. The illegal mining case was initiated from the different part of State of Himachal Pradesh.
WHAT IS DIRECTORATE OF ENFORECEMENT?
The Directorate of Enforcement is a multi-disciplinary organization that is developed to investigate the offence of money laundering. To look after the violations under the Foreign Exchange laws. The statutory functions of the Directorate include enforcement of the following: Prevention of Money Laundering Act,2002, Foreign Exchange Management Act,1999, Fugitive Economic Offenders Act,2018, Foreign Exchange Regulation Act,1973 and Sponsoring agency under COFEPOSA.
WHAT IS ILLEGAL MINING?
Illegal mining is regarded as the mining process that is carried out without any state permission authority. It actually includes the following like non-presence of land rights, mining license etc. Illegal mining means any reconnaissance or prospecting or mining operation undertaken by any person or a company in any area without holding a reconnaissance permit or a prospecting license or as the case may be, a mining license as required under the act.
There is huge number of illegal mining taking place in our country that is all related to iron ore and manganese. The illegal mining mafia is regarded as very powerful as they don’t look at anyone’s life. Mining is considered as illegal.
About Lakhwinder Singh Case
Lakhwinder Singh was arrested by ED on 26/09/2022 in illegal mining case under Prevention of Money Laundering Act.
Money laundering investigation was initiated by ED on the basis of FIR registered by PS Sadar, Una, Himachal Pradesh for illegal mining and criminal conspiracy.
Investigation of Lakhwinder Singh Case
The investigation revealed widespread illegal mining at various locations in Una District of Himachal Pradesh. ED conducted search at various premises of Lakhwinder Singh and some others on 19/09/2022 and various documents, digital devices and unaccounted cash of Rs.15.37 lakh was seized.
The mode of operation of crime adopted by the persons include excess mining beyond permissivle limits and beyong the leased ares and overshooting permissible depth of mining. No duty or tax was paid on excess mining and the environment norms was also not complied.
A joint digial survey along with the state mining officials was carried out at the mining site to physically ascertain the extent of illegal mining. The survey revealed that about 4.8 lakh cubic meter of excess mining was carried out and the material sold amounted to Rs. 35 crore.
CONCLUSION
The investigation thus made an appearance that Lakhwinder Singh is the key person who owned and controlled various mining sited in Una and also the master mind and prime beneficiary from illegal mining. Lakhwinder Singh had relevant information amd was misleading the investigation. He was arrested and produced before the Hon’ble Special Court, Dharamsala on 27/09/2022 ans was remanded to ED custody for 5 days.
