In an illegal sand mining investigation, Punjab chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi’s son
Bhupendra Singh Honey was detained in the Enforcement Directorate (ED).
The agency investigating the case arrested Honey into custody on the evening of yesterday
and will present him to the CBI court on the day of.
They claimed that Honey was detained following the Prevention of Money Laundering Act
(PMLA) late in the night.
The arrest occurred just days before the election in the 117-member Punjab legislature.
The vote will take place on February 20, and they will announce the result announced by
March 10.
In March, ED had seized Rs 8 crore in a search on the premises of Honey.
The raids took place as part of the illegal mining of sand in Punjab.
In an official statement that was released, The Enforcement Directorate had said
“incriminating” documents relating to “illegal” sand mining and property transactions,
mobile phones and gold worth more than 21 lakh rupees, as well as the Rolex watch valued
at Rs 12,5 lakh also were confiscated during the search.
Responding to the raids, Channi reacted to attacks. Channi has told reporters that the
relatives to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee were targeted during the election
for the assembly in the state and that a similar “same pattern” is being implemented by
Punjab’s ED of Punjab to “pressure” him, his ministers, and Congress Party members.
“We are prepared to take on the pressure,” …” He added, noting that there were no
connections to the investigation.
