ED arrests two in PMLA case over illegal sand mining in Himachal, UP
The arrested individuals, Gian Chand and Sanjay Dhiman, were taken into custody on Monday under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), as stated by the federal agency.
Sources confirmed that the arrests were made in Himachal Pradesh.
The case concerns unauthorized sand and mineral mining in the Beas River in Himachal Pradesh and the Yamuna River in the Saharanpur district of Uttar Pradesh.
According to the ED, it had received formal complaints and intelligence reports alleging illegal sand and mineral mining activities on the Beas Riverbed by various mining mafias, including Gian Chand. The illegal mining operations were said to have generated proceeds of crime amounting to hundreds of crores.
The ED took cognizance of FIRs filed by the police in both states to pursue its money laundering investigation.
Six FIRs, registered by different police stations in the Kangra and Una districts of Himachal Pradesh, were reviewed. The allegations indicated that illegal mining was occurring on government land, with tippers, heavy earth-moving machines, JCBs, and tractors actively engaged in the operations. These vehicles were reportedly used to illegally extract minerals and transport them unlawfully to stone crushers, often overloaded.
Additionally, another FIR was filed by the Behat police station in Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh, on November 1 against Gian Chand under the Mines and Minerals (Regulation and Development) Act, 1957, and other relevant laws. This complaint was subsequently consolidated with the complaints from Himachal Pradesh.
Following searches conducted against various individuals and an examination of incriminating materials, the ED found that Gian Chand and his associates were involved in illegal mining operations spanning from the Beas River to the Yamuna River.