PUNJAB: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted searches on Wednesday, May 29, at multiple locations in Punjab as part of an ongoing investigation into a narcotics-linked money laundering case.
The raids were carried out at 13 locations targeting individuals involved in illegal mining activities, connected to the prime accused Jagdish Singh alias Bhola, official sources revealed. These searches focused on the Rupnagar district, where illegal mining was reportedly taking place on land previously attached by the ED in the Bhola case.
During the raids, approximately ₹30 million in cash was seized, highlighting the significant financial operations associated with the illegal activities.
The money laundering case stems from a multi-crore synthetic narcotics racket uncovered in Punjab during 2013-14. The ED’s investigation was initiated based on multiple FIRs filed by the Punjab Police, making it a high-profile case due to the scale and implications of the racket.
Commonly known as the Bhola drug case, it centers around Jagdish Singh alias Bhola, a former wrestler-turned-policeman who allegedly became a ‘drug mafia’ kingpin. Bhola was arrested by the ED in January 2014, and the case is currently being tried before a special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court in Punjab.
The ED’s recent actions underline the ongoing efforts to dismantle the financial networks underpinning the illegal narcotics trade in the region, aiming to curb the influence and operations of those involved in the Bhola drug case.
