New Delhi/Chandigarh, March 9, 2021-
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday carried out searches at eight locations linked to Punjab Ekta Party MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira in Chandigarh, Punjab and also at the property of his son-in-law in Delhi in connection with drugs money laundering and fake passport racket case, officials said.
An ED official related to the probe told IANS, “Searches are going on since morning on several premises linked to Khaira in Punjab and Chandigarh.”
The official said that searches were going on at five locations in Punjab, one in Chandigarh and two locations in Delhi.
He said that ED’s officials also carried out searches at the residence of Khaira’s son-in-law Inder Veer Johal here in Delhi.
Official sources in the Enforcement Directorate (ED) said the action is being carried out against the Punjab lawmaker and others under provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and is aimed at gathering more evidence to take forward the probe.
The case pertains to the probe in the 2015 Fazilka (Punjab) drugs-smuggling case, in which1,800 grams of heroin, 24 gold biscuits, two weapons, 26 live cartridges and two Pakistani SIM cards were seized from a gang of international drug smugglers by security agencies.
The central agency recently filed a PMLA case in connection with the case, which was first lodged by the Punjab Police.
“The drugs were smuggled through the India-Pakistan border and one of the kingpins of the syndicate is in the UK.
“Sukhpal Singh Khaira was actively aiding and supporting the gang of international smugglers and enjoying the proceeds of crime,” the ED has alleged.
Some of the convicts of the Fazilka drugs case, currently lodged in jail, were also searched and questioned, the agency said.
They were identified as Gurdev Singh, Manjit Singh, Harbans Singh and Subhash Chander, all residents of Fazilka district.
Sharing the details of the fake passport racket case, the officer said that in this case also Khaira has been associated with the people named in the case.
Three people allegedly involved in the fake passport racket – Harminder Kaur (Jalandhar), Rajwinder Kaur (Kapurthala) and Bikker Singh (Kapurthala) – were also searched.
“Incriminating documents and digital devices have been seized,” an ED officer said.
When asked about the role of Khaira’s son-in-law, the officer said, “He used to help his father-in-law in money laundering through his company which works in the field of Wi-Fi systems.”
The team of ED sleuths were also carrying out searches at Sector 5 residence of Khaira in Chandigarh. At the time of the raid Khaira was present in the house along with his lawyer son.
Khaira is a legislator from Bholath and former Leader of Opposition.
The official said that the agency was looking after the property papers as well as banking transactions of Khaira.
However, Khaira denied any wrongdoing. His counsel blamed the raid for supporting the ongoing farmers’ agitation.
Senior advocate R.S. Bains, who reached Khaira’s residence, told the media that the raid was conducted to target those supporting the ongoing farmers’ agitation against three new agricultural laws.
On March 8, Khaira supported the farmers by tweeting, “Our women farmers are our strength. They are sitting in the protest alongside men from last three months as well. They also know that how these laws will affect their lives. Their presence in the protest give us double power.”
In 2019, Khaira floated a new regional political outfit, the Punjabi Ekta Party, and vowed to give a clean alternative to the people of the state.
Khaira had resigned from the Aam Aadmi Party citing the ‘dictatorial’ attitude of party chief Arvind Kejriwal. (Agency)
