Illegal Mining Case: ED Arrests Haryana Congress MLA Surender Panwar

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has arrested Surender Panwar, a Congress MLA from Sonepat, in connection with a money laundering case linked to illegal mining activities in Haryana's Yamunanagar and other regions.

In January, the ED raided properties related to Panwar and his associates in Sonepat. The homes of BJP leader Manoj Wadhwa in Karnal and INLD MLA Dilbagh Singh and his affiliates in Yamunanagar district were also searched. Following these operations, Singh was taken into custody for further questioning.

The money laundering investigation stems from several FIRs filed by the Haryana Police. These FIRs are probing the alleged illegal extraction of boulders, gravel, and sand in Yamunanagar and nearby districts. These mining activities reportedly continued even after the expiration of leases and despite court orders.

The central agency is also examining fraud within the 'e-ravan' scheme. This online portal was launched by the Haryana government in 2020 to streamline royalty and tax collections and prevent tax evasion in mining areas.

In July 2022, Panwar resigned from his position, citing personal reasons, including threats to his family's safety. "My son has been receiving death threats, but since you have assured me that adequate security will be provided to us, I am withdrawing my resignation," Panwar had said at that time.

Panwar later withdrew his resignation after receiving assurances from Assembly Speaker Gian Chand Gupta about improved security measures. "The speaker told me to come and meet him personally. He assured me and other MLAs that adequate measures will be taken to ensure our security and the culprits will be traced and arrested," Panwar said.

The ED teams were accompanied by armed personnel from central paramilitary forces during their operations. This added layer of security underscores the seriousness of the investigations, PTI reported.

Legal experts had pointed out that the speaker could not accept Panwar's resignation based solely on electronic communication without an in-person hearing. This procedural requirement ensures that resignations are thoroughly vetted before acceptance.

The ongoing investigations highlight significant concerns about illegal mining activities in Haryana. The involvement of high-profile political figures like Panwar indicates the depth of these issues.