Under the terms of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, the Directorate of Enforcement (ED), Chandigarh, has temporarily attached movable and immovable properties worth Rs. 17.82 Crore in the form of cash, bank account balances, and land belonging to family members of infamous Haryana gangster Surender Singh @ Chiku. The properties that are attached are located in Jaipur, Rajasthan, and Narnaul, Haryana.
The ED began an inquiry based on many false police reports (FIRs) against Surender Singh alias Chiku, his brother-in-law Vikash Kumar, and other individuals for abduction, murder, extortion, and other offenses filed by the Haryana Police under different sections of the IPC, 1860, and the Arms Act.
An ED probe found connections between Lawrence Bishnoi and other gang members and Surender Singh @ Chiku. The ED probe further showed that Surender Singh @ Chikuwas bought homes in the names of his family members and relatives while overseeing Lawrence Bishnoi’s criminal funds through his gang members.
Through M/s. Nimawat Granites Pvt. Ltd., an ED inquiry uncovered evidence of Surender Singh Chiku’s illicit participation in mining operations in the Narnaul region. Using his connections in the criminal world, Surender Singh Chiku presented his brother-in-law Vikash Kumar as a director and shareholder of M/s. Nimawat Granites Pvt. Ltd., a mining firm that won a mining contract at Bakhrija Mines in Narnaul.Vikash Kumar and Surender Singh Chiku used this arrangement to extract Rs. 2.84 crore without making any company investments. Following an ED investigation, it was discovered that illicit funds extracted from mining companies were obtained through a legitimate banking channel, injected into the mainstream economy, and utilized for the acquisition of real estate and private usage.
In order to determine the precise amount of money that mining companies under the patronage of mobster Surender Singh @ Chiku had been extorted, the ED performed a drone reconnaissance of the mined region in front of mining and tax officials. It has come to light that over one lakh metric tons of stones have been extracted from these mines as a consequence of quarrying. On December 5, 2023, searches under the PMLA, 2002 were carried out as part of the inquiry at 13 distinct sites in Rajasthan and Haryana where he had invested criminal gains through his brother-in-law Vikash Kumar and other family members and gang members.
Cash ledgers, property paperwork, numerous incriminating documents, and cash were discovered and confiscated during PMLA searches. Following the search operation, the ED found further criminal funds totaling about Rs. 20 crore, along with matching assets that might be attached.
On February 21, 2024, the ED also detained SurenderSingh @ Chiku in the course of their investigation. He is now being held at Tihar Jail. Additional research is currently being conducted.
