Chandigarh, Jan 5: During searches by the Enforcement Directorate against former INLD MLA Dilbag Singh and his associates, foreign-made weapons, approximately 300 cartridges, Rs 5 crore cash and more than 100 spirits bottles were found, according to official sources on Friday. On Thursday, the central agency began raiding the residence of Sonipat Congress MLA and former legislator Surender Panwar. The raids were related to a money laundering case involving suspected illicit mining in the Yamunanagar district of Haryana. The sources said that from the locations connected to Singh and his associates, approximately Rs 5 crore in cash, alleged “illegal” foreign-made weapons, about 300 cartridges, more than 100 spirits bottles, 4-5 kg of gold, and documents pertaining to assets in India and abroad had been recovered.They said that searches are still ongoing at some locations. The two politicians and associated entities had about 20 locations in Yamunanagar, Sonipat, Mohali, Faridabad, Chandigarh, and Karnal covered during the raids carried out in accordance with the PMLA (Prevention of Money Laundering Act). Singh was a Yamunanagar-based member of the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD). The money laundering case is the result of multiple First Information Reports (FIRs) filed by the Haryana Police to investigate past alleged illegal mining of boulders, gravel, and sand in Yamunanagar and surrounding districts, even after the lease had expired and a court order had been issued. The central agency is also looking into claims of fraud in the “e-Ravana” scheme, an online portal that the Haryana government launched in 2020 to make it easier to collect taxes and royalties and to stop tax evasion in mining areas.
