In accordance with the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) has detained Sadhu Singh Dharamsot, the former Forest Minister of Punjab, for a number of irregularities that occurred in the Forest Department of Punjab during his tenure as Minister. He also obtained financial gains and proceeds of crime and misrepresented them as clean by posing as the owner of a variety of assets.
The Forest Department had committed a number of irregularities. The ED opened an inquiry into these matters based on First Information Reports (FIRs) filed by the Vigilance Bureau, Punjab, under different sections of the IPC, 1860, and the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.
The results of the ED probe showed that Sadhu Singh Dharamsot, the Punjab government’s then-forest minister, accepted payments in opposition to the issuing of permits for the cutting down of Khair trees, transfers or postings within the department, the issuing of NOCs by the department, the procurement of tree guards by the department, and other actions. Additionally, it was discovered that the proceeds of crime were piled into and further injected into a variety of assets and financial operations. Consequently, Sadhu Singh was taken into custody on January 15, 2024, based on an inquiry carried out in accordance with the PMLA, 2002.
Following his appearance before the Special Court of the PMLA, Mohali, Sadhu Singh Dharamsot was given ED detention till January 19, 2024, by the Honorable Court. Additional research is currently being conducted.
