New Delhi, Dec 2: Following raids against two former Punjab forest ministers, Congressmen Sadhu Singh Dharamsot and Sangat Singh Giljian, and others as part of an alleged money laundering investigation related to the forest scam, the ED confiscated “incriminating” papers, cell phones, and other electronic devices. In a statement released on Friday, the federal inquiry agency stated that, among other things, it is looking into allegations of “bribery” in the state forest department against the granting of a permission for tree cutting and for transfer/posting within the department.According to the Enforcement Directorate (ED), the raids took place on November 30 in Punjab, Haryana, and Delhi at the homes of Dharamsot, Giljian, and their colleagues as well as some private citizens and forest authorities. The Punjab Vigilance Bureau detained Dharamsot (63), a five-time MLA, early this year in connection with a case involving allegations of having disproportionate assets. Giljian has served as the district of Hoshiarpur’s MLA for the Urmar seat.The Punjab Vigilance Bureau’s FIR served as the basis for the money laundering case, which was brought under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, according to the organisation. The first information report said that there were supposed irregularities in the forest department and that certain ministers and department officers had accepted bribes in exchange for permits to fell Khair trees, be transferred or posted within the department, receive a NOC from the department, and buy tree guards. Numerous damning documents, cell phones, and digital devices were found during the search operations, according to the ED. These items appear to have shown “suspicious transactions” involving people who are being investigated.
