The Enforcement Directorate said that it recovered illegal foreign-made arms, more than 100 liquor bottles, and five crore cash from the premises of former Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) MLA Dilbag Singh and his associates, as reported by news agency ANI on Friday. The probe agency further stated that other materials have also been recovered including several properties in India and abroad. Singh is a former Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) MLA from Yamunanagar.
On Thursday, the probe agency had launched raids against Singh and Congress MLA from Sonipat Surender Panwar as part of a money laundering case linked to alleged illegal mining in Haryana's Yamunanagar district and some other regions.
About Rs 5 crore cash, "illegal" foreign-made rifles, around 300 cartridges and bullets, more than 100 liquor bottles, 4-5 kilograms of gold biscuits and jewellery, and documents pertaining to assets in India and abroad have been recovered from the premises linked to Singh and his associates, news agency PTI reported, citing sources. The searches at some locations are continuing, they said.
The raids were conducted at around 20 locations of the two politicians and linked entities in Yamunanagar, Sonipat, Mohali, Faridabad, Chandigarh and Karnal, PTI reported. The raids were carried out under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
The money laundering case stems from several FIRs registered by Haryana Police to probe alleged illegal mining of boulders, gravel and sand that took place in the past in Yamunanagar and nearby districts even after the lease expiry period and a ban imposed by the National Green Tribunal (NGT).
The agency is also investigating alleged fraud in the 'e-Ravana' scheme, an online portal that was introduced by the Haryana government in 2020 to simplify collection of royalties and taxes and to prevent tax evasion in mining areas. The activities were being run by a syndicate allegedly linked to the two politicians, PTI reported, citing ED sources.