In an investigation pertaining to the purchase of land by RB Education Trust (RBET), the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) detained Choudhary Lal Singh S/o Late Shri. Saran Singh (a former minister and thrice former MP) on November 7, 2023, in accordance with the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (PMLA).
Based on the FIR and chargesheet against Smt. Kanta Andotra, W/o Choudhary Lal Singh (Chairperson of RBET) and Ravinder Singh (the then-patwari), filed by ACB, CBI Jammu, ED began an investigation.
According to the ED probe, Choudhary Lal Singh forcibly transferred the aforementioned land into the name of RBET in 2011 with the help of the then-posting Revenue Official in Kathua. This site was bought in part for the operation of DPS School. According to the research, R B Education Trust had purchased 328 kanals of land, which was more than the permitted limit of 100 standard kanals.
Prior to this, on October 17, 2023, the ED carried out searches at eight sites located throughout the districts of Jammu and Kathua in the Union Territory of J&K and Pathankot, Punjab, including the trust office located in Vill. Karandi Khurd PO Rajbagh Kathua. On November 8, 2023, the Honorable Special Court PMLA, Jammu awarded ED seven days of detention over Choudhary Lal Singh. Further research is now being conducted.
