ED raids Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi's relative premises in Mohali
Highlights
- Enforcement Directorate conducting raids in Punjab in illegal sand mining case
- Premises linked to sand mafia Bhupinder Singh Honey
- Honey is said to be Punjab CM's nehew
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday morning raided Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi relative's premises in Mohali over illegal sand mining case.
Bhupinder Singh Honey, who is allegedly the main accused in the illegal sand mining case, is stated to be the nephew of Punjab CM. According to initial reports, a total 10-12 places in Punjab including Mohali are being searched. Opposition parties have earlier linked Channi with the dealings of Honey which the former had denied.
The probing agency raided 10-12 places in Punjab including Mohali in poll-bound Punjab as part of a money-laundering investigation against companies involved in illegal sand mining in the border state, officials said.
The ED action, sources said, has been initiated after taking cognisance of a 2018 FIR of the Punjab Police against some companies and individuals alleged to be involved in illegal sand mining in the state.
Reacting to the raids, CM Channi said, "Raid is being conducted (on the premises of his relative). They're targetting me & trying to put pressure on me in view of upcoming Assembly polls. This is not good for democracy. We're ready to fight this. The same thing happened during West Bengal elections."
Accepting a demand by the state government and various political parties, the Election Commission decided on Monday to hold the single-phase assembly polls in Punjab on February 20 instead of February 14 in view of Guru Ravidas Jayanti.
Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi, BJP and its allies, the BSP and other organisations had urged the poll panel to postpone the date of voting as lakhs of followers of Guru Ravidas travel to Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh to celebrate his birth anniversary on February 16.
The state is poll-bound with voting slated to take place for its 117 assembly seats on February 20.
ALSO READ: Message for Sidhu? Amid tussle for Punjab CM face, Congress shares video starring Channi
