Just ahead of Punjab polls, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has arrested Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi’s nephew Bhupendra Singh Honey in connection to alleged illegal sand mining.

Under provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), ED has taken Honey into custody. Mr. Honey is the son of Channi’s sister-in-law. On January 18, ED has raided the premises of Honey and seized Rs. 8 crore cash.

ED has also carried out raids in Mohali and Ludhiana. During raids, the ED officials stated that they have found incriminating documents related to illegal sand mining.

Mr. Channi said that it was pressure tactics of the BJP government ahead of Punjab elections and similar raids were carried out on the premises of Mamata Banerjee’s relatives during the West Bengal elections 2021.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi criticized that conducting an ED raid is BJP’s sharp favourite weapon because they themselves have things to hide.

Punjab Governor Banwari Lal Purohit had ordered the DGP to conduct a high-level enquiry into the allegations of illegal sand mining against CM Channi. During the elections campaign AAP has alleged that illegal sand mining is rampant in the state, the Channi government has not taken any action to curb illegal sand mining, AAP alleged and make it an elections issue.  Punjab will go for elections in February 14. The results will be declared on March 10.