ED arrests Haryana MLA Surender Panwar in money laundering case

Gurugram (Haryana) [India], July 22 (ANI): Directorate of Enforcement (ED) has arrested Haryana MLA, Surender Panwar, in connection with an illegal mining case under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002.

Panwar is an MLA of Sonipat and was arrested by the Directorate of Enforcement (ED), Gurugram Zonal Office on July 20.

Panwar was produced before the Special Court (PMLA), Ambala (Haryana) and has been remanded to ED custody for 9 days.

“Directorate of Enforcement (ED), Gurugram Zonal Office has arrested Surender Panwar, MLA of Sonipat, on July 20, 2024, in the case of illegal mining case under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002,” as per a press release from the ED.

The syndicate of illegal mining in Yamuna Nagar area is controlled, managed and run by Surender Panwar, MLA, Dilbag Singh, Ex MLA and their family members, and other key associates. Surender Panwar was produced before the Hon’ble Special Court (PMLA), Ambala (Haryana) and the Hon’ble Court has granted ED custody for 9 days,” the agency said.

“ED initiated investigation on the basis of multiple FIRs registered by Haryana Police under various sections of IPC, 1860 and Environment Protection Act, 1986 related to illegal mining of sand, Boulder-Gravel and Boulder-Gravel-Sand in District Yamuna Nagar against various mining lease holder companies namely M/s Mubarikpur Royalty Company, M/s Development Strategies (India) Pvt Ltd, M/s Delhi Royalty Company, M/s JSM Foods Pvt Ltd and M/s PS Buildtech, and also against various Screening Plants & Stone Crushers and associated persons,” ED said in the release.

ED investigation revealed that Surender Panwar and his family members are major shareholders in M/s Development Strategies (India) Pvt Ltd. involved in illegal mining & part of the mining syndicate. Earlier, the Hon’ble NGT also imposed a huge penalty on M/s Development Strategies (India) Pvt Ltd of Rs 2.5 crore, Delhi Royalty Company of Rs 4.2 crore, and Mubarikpur Royalty Company for Rs 12 crore for violating the environmental norms including illegal mining, diversion of river flow, etc, the agency said.

ED investigation has so far revealed that the total Proceeds of Crime (PoC) generated out of this illegal mining activities in this case is estimated to be more than Rs 500 crore.

“Earlier, ED conducted search operations, under the provisions of PMLA, 2002 at the premises of Surender Panwar, Dilbag Singh, Angad Makkar, etc. and consequently, Dilbag Singh, Ex-MLA and his aide Kulwinder Singh were arrested on January 8, 2024,” ED said in the release.

Further investigation is underway.