Chandigarh, July 20, 2026(Yes Punjab News)
The Directorate of Enforcement (ED), Jalandhar Zonal Office, has conducted search operations at 16 locations in connection with an alleged illegal sand mining and money laundering case in Punjab, recovering incriminating documents, seizing ₹1.75 crore in unaccounted cash and freezing bank accounts with a balance of over ₹91.34 lakh.
According to an official press release issued by the ED on Monday, the searches were carried out on July 16 under Section 17 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, at 16 premises linked to the alleged illegal mining of sand and river-bed material on Shamlat land in Village Bhattian, Pathankot district.
The ED said the land was allegedly transferred illegally to private individuals through an impugned order passed by the then Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC), Kuldeep Singh.
During the searches, investigators recovered and seized various incriminating documents relating to the alleged illegal mining activities. Besides the seizure of ₹1.75 crore in unaccounted cash, the agency also issued freezing orders under Section 17(1A) of the PMLA on bank accounts having an aggregate balance of ₹91,34,322.
The money laundering investigation stems from an FIR registered by the Vigilance Bureau Police Station, Amritsar, against former ADC Kuldeep Singh and eight others in connection with the alleged illegal transfer of common village (Shamlat) land in Village Bhattian to private individuals.
The ED stated that the land, located on the banks of the Ravi River close to the International Border, was allegedly transferred through an order passed by Kuldeep Singh one day before his retirement from government service. The agency also noted that his appointment as ADC (Rural Development), Pathankot, had reportedly been made on the recommendation of a state government minister just four days before his superannuation.
Searches were also conducted at the premises of M/s Shree Sai Stone Crusher and Screener, M/s Shiv Shankar Stone Crusher, and persons associated with the management of these entities, who are alleged to have been involved in illegal excavation of sand from the disputed land.
According to the ED, the investigation has revealed that sand and river-bed material were allegedly excavated, purchased, sold and transported without the required authorisation and without payment of applicable taxes and royalty, causing substantial financial loss to the state exchequer.
The agency further alleged that certain government officials facilitated the illegal mining operations by failing to take preventive or corrective measures.
The ED also claimed that trucks, tippers and excavators were found to have been operating extensively in the area during night hours, with some vehicles allegedly running without number plates, indicating what it described as an organised illegal mining network.
Referring to an ongoing Public Interest Litigation (CWP-22567-2012) pending before the Punjab and Haryana High Court concerning mining activities in the border districts of Pathankot and Gurdaspur, the ED noted that the High Court had earlier observed that illegal mining in the Ravi river belt could adversely affect national security by facilitating the movement of drug smugglers, terrorists and other anti-national elements operating in the hinterland. The Court had also directed the state government to take necessary steps to curb such activities.
The Enforcement Directorate said it has sought the assistance of the Survey of India for a scientific examination of the alleged illegal mining activities on the land under investigation.
The agency added that further investigation in the case is underway.
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