The officials of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday raided the house of Punjab legislator from Bholath Sukhpal Singh Khaira in connection with a money-laundering case linked
to narcotics trafficking and the creation of an alleged fake passport.
The action against Khaira is being carried out under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and is aimed at gathering more evidence to take forward the probe, said the ED officials.
The case pertains to the probe in 2015 Fazilka (Punjab) drugs-smuggling case, in which 1,800 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 team, that arrived from New Delhi, carried out searches at Khaira’s Sector 5 residence in Chandigarh, and nine places in Punjab and two in Delhi — including the house of his son-in-law, Inderveer Singh Johal.
The agency alleged that Khaira is an “associate” of the drugs racket convicts and fake passport racketeers.
While the raids were on, Khaira came out of his residence for a few seconds and told the reporters that he had “not done anything wrong”, adding that the ED sleuths arrived at his house around 7.30 am.
“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 in 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.
Three people allegedly involved in the fake passport racket — Harminder Kaur (Jalandhar resident), Rajwinder Kaur (Kapurthala), and Bikker Singh (Kapurthala) — were also searched.
“Incriminating documents and digital devices have been seized,” an ED officer said.
Khaira was elected to the state Assembly in 2017 on Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) ticket. Ahead 2019 Lok Sabha polls, Khaira parted ways with AAP and floated Punjab Ekta Party (PEP), but failed to make a mark. However, the new outfit had also established its units abroad.
Notably, Khaira has been vociferously taking up the issue of suspicious death of Uttar Pradesh farmer Navreet Singh, who died on January 26 during the farmers’ protest.
Reacting, Khaira said: “Enforcement Directorate has come here. Those who raise voice against the government are gagged and threatened. As a member of the Opposition, it’s not the first time it’s happening to me. My father and I’ve always fought for justice and supported the truth. I’ve done nothing wrong.”
Taking to Twitter, Khaira tweeted, “ED is being used to silence my voice because I supported farmers, raised their concerns, spoke against atrocities of Govt & attacks against peacefully protesting farmers. Farmers & their supporters were sent NIA notices, they have been jailed & tortured & now ED.”
