Enforcement Directorate (ED), Jalandhar, has filed a Prosecution Complaint (PC) against Sadhu Singh Dharamsot, the former Forest Minister of Punjab, under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, on March 13, 2024, before the Hon’ble Special Court, PMLA, Mohali. The Hon’ble Court has taken cognizance of the PC on March 15, 2024.
The ED’s investigation stems from FIRs registered by the Vigilance Bureau, Punjab, under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, 1860, and the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, relating to irregularities in the Forest Department of Punjab.
The probe revealed that Sadhu Singh Dharamsot had allegedly demanded and received substantial bribes for issuing permits for felling Khair trees, influencing the transfer/posting of officers within the Forest Department, and obtaining NOCs from the Forest Department. It was found that during his tenure as Forest Minister, Dharamsot acquired proceeds of crime amounting to approximately Rs. 1.67 Crore from various individuals.
Earlier, ED had conducted searches at various premises linked with ex-Forest Ministers of Punjab, their associates, high-ranking officers, and private individuals on November 30, 2023, under the PMLA, 2002, seizing incriminating material related to the Forest Department irregularities.
Sadhu Singh Dharamsot was arrested by ED on January 15, 2024, under the PMLA, 2002, and is currently in judicial custody.
On March 13, 2024, ED provisionally attached properties valued at Rs. 4.58 Crore belonging to Sadhu Singh Dharamsot and his sons under the PMLA, 2002.
