Court resumes trial against ex-Cong MLA in PMLA case

Chandigarh: The special court for PMLA cases in Ambala has taken cognizance of a chargesheet filed by the Directorate of Enforcement (ED), Gurgaon zonal office, in a money-laundering case against former Congress MLA from Sonipat seat Surender Panwar, said an ED official on Tuesday.The court of district and sessions judge Kanchan Mahi, special judge for PMLA cases, took cognizance on Monday to resume the regular trial of Panwar. ED filed the chargesheet on Sept 19, and the case had been since pending in court for resumption of trial.Panwar is the former director and present shareholder of M/s. Development Strategies India Private Limited. He was arrested in this July and granted bail ahead of assembly elections.Earlier, ED arrested another former MLA of INLD, Dilbag Singh, and his aide Kulwinder Singh from Yamunanagar after three days of search and seizure operations at their premises on Jan 8 this year. ED officials said Dilbag and Kulwinder are facing trial in a Gurgaon court.ED initiated an investigation on the basis of multiple FIRs registered by Haryana Police under various sections of IPC and Environment Protection Act related to illegal mining of boulder-gravel and sand in Yamunanagar, related to scheduled offences under Prevention of Money Laundering Act.The ED investigation revealed the accused MLAs, who were directly or indirectly linked to companies, were part of a mining syndicate in Yamunanagar, which is involved in illegal mining. The syndicate, through various shell companies, participated in a mining auction by the mines and geology department and collectively obtained 10 mining licences for different periods of lease.Accordingly, mining blocks were allotted to the syndicate for the excavation of sand, boulders, and gravel from allocated areas as per mining contracts executed between the department of mines and geology and the company concerned. The syndicate was involved in illegal mining activities using various modus operandi, such as excavating more than depth permitted in mining contract, mining from unauthorised land areas, and generating fake e-Ravanas for random vehicle numbers that either do not exist or are non-transport vehicles.These findings were also corroborated by an independent survey by a field expert. During the investigation, Panwar and the companies were found to be involved in money laundering, which led to the acquisition, concealment, and use of the proceeds of crime (POC) generated through illegal mining activities related to scheduled offences under PMLA.ED investigation revealed that the total POC generated through such illegal mining activities was more than Rs 300 crore. Courts have already ordered a provisional attachment of 145 immovable properties worth Rs 121.7 crore.
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