In a case involving unlawful sand mining, the Enforcement Directorate detained Bhupinder Singh S/o Santokh Singh in accordance with the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002. On January 18, 2022, the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) searched many locations in this case, including Kudratdeep Singh’s office and home as well as the offices of the other directors of M/s Providers Overseas Consultants Pvt. Ltd., Bhupinder Singh S/o Santokh Singh and Sandeep Kumar S/o Kasturi Lal. The search operation resulted in the recovery and seizure of several incriminating papers, digital devices, and cash totalling more than Rs. 10 Crore, among other things.
Based on an FIR filed by Police Station Rahon, District SBS Nagar, Punjab, under different provisions of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Mines and Minerals (Regulation of Development) Act, 1957, the ED opened a money-laundering investigation. In the aforementioned FIR, it was stated that a team did a surprise check on 07.03.2018 based on a complaint received at the Police Station – Rahon, SBS Nagar, about illicit sand mining. The team was made up of authorities from the Mining Department, Civil Administration, and Police Department. As a result, it was discovered that mining was occurring outside of the allocated region and that many mines were being mined by different machinery. As a result, the investigative team was able to confiscate several tippers/trucks, porcelain machines, JCB machines, and other items.
Additionally, it was discovered that the confiscated tipper/trucks were sand-overloaded. The office-stamped weigh-in papers that were confiscated were fake and had not been issued by the relevant office. The crew then suspended the mining activity at the Kudratdeep Singh-owned Malikpur mining site as well as the approval of weighment Slips. In addition to Malikpur, illicit mining operations were allegedly also conducted at Burjtahl Das, Barsal, Lalewal, Mandala, and Khosa, according to the FIR.
The testimonies of Kudratdeep Singh, Bhupinder Singh, Santokh Singh (Bhupinder Singh’s father), and Sandeep Kumar were recorded during the course of a search operation, proving that the recovered Rs. 10 Crore belonged to Bhupinder Singh S/o Santokh Singh. Bhupinder Singh also acknowledged that he was given the cash in exchange for aiding in sand mining activities and official transfers and postings. Bhupinder Singh has received a new summons requiring him to appear in person on February 3, 2022, along with the necessary paperwork. In response, he showed up and presented his statement, in which he, among other things, claimed to be engaged in mining-related activities but acted circumspectly when presented with evidence that might have implicated him.
Bhupinder Singh was detained on the evening of February 3, 2022, at the Jalandhar Zonal office. He was brought before the Special Court on February 4, 2022, and the Special Judge (PMLA), rejecting the accused’s appeal, granted ED detention till February 8, 2022. Further research is now being conducted.
