Punjab Revenue Minister Bikram Singh questioned by ED in drug money laundering case

Chandigarh, Dec 26: Punjab Revenue Minister Bikram Singh Majithia was on Friday questioned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with the alleged Rs 6,000 crore money laundering drugs racket case.

Official sources said Majithia reached the ED office in Jalandhar, at the stipulated time of 11 AM, where a criminal case has been launched under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) to probe this case.

"Majithia's statement will be recorded under PMLA laws and the questioning is in progress," the sources said. The ED has been probing an international drug racket, which was unearthed with the arrest of an NRI, Anoop Singh Kahlon, by the Fatehgarh Sahib Police in March 2013 and Majithia's name came under the scanner after statements were recorded of other accused in the case.

After the issue of summons Majithia had assured full cooperation with the central investigating agency.

ED investigators had also sought Majithia's financial statements and transactions for the last few years which are expected to be submitted by the Minister to the investigators during the course of questioning today.

Further probe in the case had led to the arrest of alleged kingpin Jagdish Bhola, a dismissed DSP of Punjab Police, in November last year. Based on Bhola's revelations, Amritsar businessmen Bittu Aulakh and Jagjit Singh Chahal, who owns pharma companies, were also arrested.

While Bhola and Bittu Aulakh are in jail, Chahal was granted bail in March this year.

PTI