THE JHARKHAND STORY DESK
New Delhi, Nov 19: The Enforcement Directorate has detained two individuals in connection with a money laundering case related to alleged illegal mining, official sources reported on Tuesday.
The accused, identified as Gyanchand and Sanjay Dhiman, were arrested in Himachal Pradesh on Monday night under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
Gyanchand and Sanjay Dhiman were arrested in connection with illegal mining activities involving the Beas River in Himachal Pradesh and the Yamuna River in Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh. The duo was presented before the Special Court in Ghaziabad on Tuesday.
The ED received formal complaints and intelligence inputs alleging that several mining mafias, including Gyanchand, were involved in illegal sand and mineral extraction along the banks of the Beas River. These illegal operations reportedly generated hundreds of crores of rupees in criminal proceeds.
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The Enforcement Directorate (ED) initiated an investigation based on six FIRs registered by various police stations in Kangra and Una districts of Himachal Pradesh related to illegal mining activities.
According to the FIRs, allegations were made that illegal mining was being carried out on government land in these districts. Vehicles such as tippers, Poclains, JCBs, and tractors were actively engaged in these activities, extracting minerals illegally and transporting them in overloaded vehicles to stone crushers.
Another FIR was filed on November 1 by the Behut Police Station in Uttar Pradesh’s Saharanpur against Gyanchand and others. During the investigation, 12 searches were conducted at premises linked to Gyanchand and his associates in Himachal and Saharanpur, and several statements were recorded.
Evidence seized revealed that Gyanchand and his network were involved in illegal mining operations spanning from the Beas River to the Yamuna River. The proceeds of these illegal activities were reportedly used to purchase immovable properties and mining machinery, including trucks, tippers, JCBs, and crushers. According to the ED, further investigation is underway.
