Ahead of Polls, ED Raids Punjab CM’s Nephew In Illegal Sand Mining Case; Congress Says ‘BJP’s Election Campaign Begins’

Punjab Assembly Election 2022: Reacting to the raids, the national president of the Indian Youth Congress said 'BJP had started its poll campaign in the state'.

New Delhi: Days ahead of Punjab Assembly Election 2022, the Enforcement Directorate on Tuesday raided Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi’s nephew and several others as part of a money-laundering probe against companies involved in illegal sand mining. Officials said that at least 10-12 locations in the state are being covered by the officials of the federal agency and the action is being undertaken under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

Reacting to the raids, the national president of the Indian Youth Congress said ‘BJP had started its poll campaign in the state’.

ECI 𝗘𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗗𝗮𝘆𝘀 = BJP's 𝗘𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗰𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗗𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲 (ED)

BJP ने पंजाब में शुरू किया चुनावी अभियान..

— Srinivas BV (@srinivasiyc) January 18, 2022

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said, “It’s very sad to know that raid is being conducted on the premises of Punjab CM Charanjit Singh Channi’s relative in connection with a case of illegal sand mining. Punjab CM & his relatives are involved in illegal sand mining.”

Mohali, Punjab | It's very sad to know that raid is being conducted on the premises of Punjab CM Charanjit Singh Channi's relative in connection with a case of illegal sand mining. Punjab CM & his relatives are involved in illegal sand mining: Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal pic.twitter.com/OhdQYA8OSn

— ANI (@ANI) January 18, 2022

Meanwhile, speaking to a leading portal, sources close to the probe agency asserted that Channi’s nephew Bhupinder Singh Honey had formed a company named Punjab Realtors and the allegation is that the Malikpur quarry in Nawashahar was illegally allotted.

The state is poll-bound with voting slated to take place for its 117 assembly seats on February 20.