In accordance with the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) conducted search operations on April 12, 2024, at 20 locations in the cities of Faridabad, Sonepat, Yamunanagar, Karnal, Chandigarh, and Mohali. These operations were related to a case involving Dilbag Singh, Ex MLA, and Surender Panwar, MLA, and their associates engaging in large-scale illegal mining of sand, boulder, and gravel that was prevalent in Yamuna Nagar and adjacent Districts of Haryana.
Based on several FIRs against various individuals and their affiliated businesses filed by the Haryana Police under different sections of the IPC, 1860 about illicit mining conducted by various firms in the area, the ED opened an investigation. Additionally, the Hon. National Green Tribunal has issued a number of orders pertaining to illicit mining.
An ED investigation exposed the unlawful mining and trading of minerals (sand, gravel, and boulders) by a number of Yamunanagar District stone crushers and owners of screening plants. This was accomplished by using various means to elude authorities, such as producing phoney physical copies of the e-Rawana bills upon inspection or transporting the mined minerals illegally without creating the necessary e-Rawana bills from the Mining Department portal.
Totalling Rs. 5.29 Crore, gold valued at about Rs. 1.89 Crore, two cars, a variety of electronic equipment, paperwork pertaining to investments made in India and elsewhere, and several other documents of an incriminating nature were found during the search operations.
Moreover, there were five illicit firearms, a large number of rounds and cartridges of ammunition, and 138 bottles of booze (more than the amount that is legally allowed). The Haryana Police have filed a FIR after discovering five illicit firearms, a large number of cartridges and rounds of ammunition, and 138 bottles of alcohol (more than the allowable legal limit) on Dilbag Singh’s property.
Furthermore, on August 1, 2024, ED detained Dilbag Singh, an ex-MLA, and Kulwinder Singh, his aide, in accordance with the PMLA, 2002, for their roles in the aforementioned offence. They were then brought before the Hon. Special Court (PMLA) on January 9, 2024, which granted ED detention for one week. Additional research is currently being conducted.
