On September 4, 2023, the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) carried out a search under the provisions of the PMLA, 2002 for the bank lockers in Ludhiana belonging to the accused individuals and their associates in the Punjab Tender Scam case. They discovered approximately 4 kg of gold bullion and gold jewellery valued at approximately Rs. 2.12 crore.
Earlier, on August 24, 2023, the ED conducted search operations in the Punjab Tender Scam case at the homes of Bharat Bhushan Ashu, the former minister of food and civil supplies for Punjab, and his accomplices at 25 sites in the Punjab cities of Ludhiana, Mohali, Nawanshahr, Jalandhar, and Amritsar. The search operations on August 24, 2023, resulted in the confiscation of cash, the freezing of monies in bank accounts, and the freezing of assets totalling more than Rs. 6.5 Crore.
The aforementioned bank vaults were placed under freeze during search and seizure operations on August 24, 2023. Following the most recent searches, the total amount recovered in this case—including seizure and freezing—has exceeded Rs. 8.6 Crore.
The ED began an inquiry based on a number of FIRs filed by the Vigilance Bureau of Ludhiana under different provisions of the PC Act of 1988 and the IPC of 1860. Investigations were started against the aforementioned individuals and their accomplices based on the facts at hand in order to determine the money laundering operations they engaged in in order to conceal the proceeds of the crime. Additional investigation is being conducted.
