New Delhi: Chief Minister of Punjab Charanjit Singh Channi The Center on Wednesday accused the Center of hatching a “conspiracy” to “implicate” him after the Enforcement Directorate conducted a search operation at the homes and offices of his nephew and found several “defamatory documents” related to him. sand mining Business and property transactions.
Earlier today, the ED revealed that over Rs 10 crore in cash, gold worth around Rs 21 lakh and Rolex watch worth Rs 12 lakh were seized during the search operation.
ED raid The agency’s statement said the charges were made in connection with an investigation into money laundering allegations related to the 2018 illegal sand mining case.
‘Plot to implicate me’
Terming the raids as a BJP ploy, Channi alleged that whenever elections are held, the BJP government at the Center uses and targets agencies like Enforcement Directorate (ED), Income Tax and others against political opponents.
“A conspiracy has been hatched to implicate me in this case,” Channi claimed, referring to the ED’s raid on his nephew’s house on Tuesday.
Responding to the ED’s raids on his nephew’s premises, Channi claimed that he was not even named in the 2018 FIR of Nawanshahr (Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar district) police.
‘Raids based on details in FIR’
The ED said that its investigation was done on the basis of a case registered on a complaint regarding illegal sand mining in Punjab’s Shaheed Bhagat Singh (SBS) Nagar police station on March 7, 2018.
In the FIR, it was mentioned that a team of officials from the Mining Department, Civil Administration and Police Department conducted a surprise inspection and found that several mines were being excavated by different machines and mining was being carried out beyond designated areas. .
According to the FIR, apart from Malikpur, illegal mining activities were also carried out in Burjtahal Das, Barsal, Lalewal, Mandla and Khosa.
The ED statement said that on the basis of the available information, investigation was initiated against the said miners and their associates to ascertain the money laundering activities carried out by them to legitimize proceeds of crime.
‘Revenge raid?’
Channi also sought to link the ED raids on his nephew’s premises to the recently scheduled Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Ferozepur, during which his convoy was halted for 15-20 minutes due to farmers’ protests. returned without addressing. ,
What was my fault if Modi had to return? Why am I being avenged?
‘Chani is a dishonest man’
Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal hit out at Channi over the ED raids and said the Punjab Chief Minister was not a common man but a “dishonest”.
Through his remarks, Kejriwal tried to target the image of the common man, which Channi had tried to develop after his elevation as chief minister last year.
Taking a dig at the CM on Wednesday, Kejriwal tweeted in Hindi, “Channi is not aam aadmi, badman aadmi hai.”
On Tuesday also, Kejriwal had attacked Channi for illegal sand mining.
“It is sad that a relative of the chief minister is being raided for sand mining,” Kejriwal said. He said that his party leader had earlier disclosed how illegal sand mining was taking place in Chamkaur Sahib, the assembly constituency of Channi.
“Despite exposing it, the Chief Minister did not act and even tried to justify it. It is clear that he (CM) and his family are involved in illegal sand mining. For the future of Punjab from the person who has the family. What can be expected. Illegal mining is involved.”
(with inputs from PTI)
Earlier today, the ED revealed that over Rs 10 crore in cash, gold worth around Rs 21 lakh and Rolex watch worth Rs 12 lakh were seized during the search operation.
ED raid The agency’s statement said the charges were made in connection with an investigation into money laundering allegations related to the 2018 illegal sand mining case.
‘Plot to implicate me’
Terming the raids as a BJP ploy, Channi alleged that whenever elections are held, the BJP government at the Center uses and targets agencies like Enforcement Directorate (ED), Income Tax and others against political opponents.
“A conspiracy has been hatched to implicate me in this case,” Channi claimed, referring to the ED’s raid on his nephew’s house on Tuesday.
Responding to the ED’s raids on his nephew’s premises, Channi claimed that he was not even named in the 2018 FIR of Nawanshahr (Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar district) police.
‘Raids based on details in FIR’
The ED said that its investigation was done on the basis of a case registered on a complaint regarding illegal sand mining in Punjab’s Shaheed Bhagat Singh (SBS) Nagar police station on March 7, 2018.
In the FIR, it was mentioned that a team of officials from the Mining Department, Civil Administration and Police Department conducted a surprise inspection and found that several mines were being excavated by different machines and mining was being carried out beyond designated areas. .
According to the FIR, apart from Malikpur, illegal mining activities were also carried out in Burjtahal Das, Barsal, Lalewal, Mandla and Khosa.
The ED statement said that on the basis of the available information, investigation was initiated against the said miners and their associates to ascertain the money laundering activities carried out by them to legitimize proceeds of crime.
‘Revenge raid?’
Channi also sought to link the ED raids on his nephew’s premises to the recently scheduled Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Ferozepur, during which his convoy was halted for 15-20 minutes due to farmers’ protests. returned without addressing. ,
What was my fault if Modi had to return? Why am I being avenged?
‘Chani is a dishonest man’
Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal hit out at Channi over the ED raids and said the Punjab Chief Minister was not a common man but a “dishonest”.
Through his remarks, Kejriwal tried to target the image of the common man, which Channi had tried to develop after his elevation as chief minister last year.
Taking a dig at the CM on Wednesday, Kejriwal tweeted in Hindi, “Channi is not aam aadmi, badman aadmi hai.”
On Tuesday also, Kejriwal had attacked Channi for illegal sand mining.
“It is sad that a relative of the chief minister is being raided for sand mining,” Kejriwal said. He said that his party leader had earlier disclosed how illegal sand mining was taking place in Chamkaur Sahib, the assembly constituency of Channi.
“Despite exposing it, the Chief Minister did not act and even tried to justify it. It is clear that he (CM) and his family are involved in illegal sand mining. For the future of Punjab from the person who has the family. What can be expected. Illegal mining is involved.”
(with inputs from PTI)
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